Edgware Town 2-1 Dartford

DARTFORD were applauded onto the White Lion pitch by a double row of Edgware Town players, rather dispelling the thought the visitors were merely champions-elect.

Overhead it was the customary sulky, cloudy afternoon as Darts played down the slight slope.

Edgware proved to be a neat, good passing side indicating why they had had their colours lowered but once in league encounters at the White Lion.

Darts were their usual selves, although their introduction may have fazed them just a little.

Of the two, Darts were more incisive and the whole affair was being supervised by a slightly pernickety referee.

The first attempt on goal came in four minutes when a free-kick was headed across the Edgware goal.

At the other end, the elusive Greg Ngoyi shot on the turn with the effort being comfortably held by Tony Kessell.

The home defenders used weight of numbers to keep Brendon Cass in check and Ryan Hayes patrolled his right flank like a tigress guarding young.

Midway through the half came a brace of goals.

On 24 minutes, following a free-kick, Jay May planted a knock-back past Darren Bonfield.

Three minutes later, Ngoyi essayed a dribble down the right, along the goal line and skewered past Kessell from an impossible angle for the leveller.

The second half was a master-class in precision passing, positional changes, typical wing-work, midfield probing and quality back-four work.

In the very last moment of the game, when all was near enough dead and buried, Denis Marahajan fired past Kessell for an unlikely winner.

No matter, news filtering through from Redbridge indicated ADC Sudbury had fallen at Beecher's and Darts were the champions.

The crowd surged over the barriers, saluted their heroes and gave vent to 24 years of pent-up feelings. Can you hear us, Jim?

Dartford: Kessell, Coyle, Norman, Flanagan, Guest, O'Brien, Hayes, Kadi , Cass (Piscina 89), J May, McClements (Barnes 65). Subs not used: Lewis, Barnes, Piscina, Green. Att: 613.

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