Brendon Cass (above) strengthened Dartford's title bid with the only goal of the game in Essex. STEVEN HARRINGTON
Canvey Island 0-1 Dartford
DARTFORD left Princes Park in a blizzard on Easter Monday and arrived at Canvey in an altogether friendlier climate.
An unchanged team got quickly into its stride thanks to the now obligatory free-kick for a foul by the right side of the home defence.
The home side showed some neat touches, but found Darts in their usual parsimonious mode.
At times Darts had so many players free the casual observer was obliged to count the numbers to ensure there were only 11 white shirts on the park.
Indeed, it was 15 minutes before Canvey mounted anything like a worthwhile attack, a long range affair which passed by Tony Kessell's left post.
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Just before the half hour, a Junior Kadi free-kick from halfway created panic in the home goalmouth with a defender and the keeper getting in each other's way.
The ball ran free to Brendon Cass, who promptly knocked it in for what turned out to be the winner.
Canvey had a short spell on the attack and Kessell was called on to palm a fierce shot over his crossbar which set the hosts up for a period of pressure.
However, skipper Alex O'Brien and the defensive unit brought back memories of Carr, Burns and Binks and Canvey spent the rest of the game seeing little of the Dartford goal.
It was nerve-tingling for the vociferous Darts choir but with Canvey high, wide and not so handsome in their shooting, the chances of a leveller became more and more remote.
Late substitutions allowed Phil Williams to delight the crowd with a dribbling masterclass.
There was also cheering news of co-chairman Dave Skinner, who suffered a heart attack after the Ware game on Saturday, when it was revealed he would be home by Easter Monday afternoon.
Dartford: Kessell, Coyle, Norman, Osborne, Guest, O'Brien, Hayes (Barnes 79), Kadi, Cass (Piscina 79), J May, Green (Williams 88). Subs not used: Bradbrook, Lewis. Att: 819.
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