Dartford 4-2 Ashford Town

Attacking the Academy End, Darts were in front before the last programme had been sold.

Ryan Hayes sent a ball through to the inside left position where Lee Noble, timing his run to the inch, beat Craig Ross in the visiting goal.

Six minutes later, a free-kick from out left was deftly turned home at the near post by Jay May to set the erstwhile maligned Dartford Choir alight.

A slightly unfortunate penalty to the visitors was converted by Byron Harrison three minutes later and from then on both sides played attractive football, with Ashford having the use of an additional weapon – long-throw merchants on both flanks.

Ricky Wellard conjured a thunderbolt from nowhere to level matters seven minutes before the break and the visitors might have taken the lead but for a flying save from Andrew Young.

Then, in the last seconds of the half, Craig Carley, playing like the player we know he is, brought out a despairing save from Ross and the ensemble trooped off for the interval all square.

The second half was exhibition stuff with both teams seemingly involved in a giant battle of the conjurers bidding to out-vie each other with more and more extravagant moves.

This was greatly appreciated by the audience and all the familiar Darts ditties were given an airing.

With five minutes to go, Bradley Woods-Garness - on for Carley - was flattened in the area, allowing skipper Adam Flanagan to double his tally for the season from the spot.

To crown the evening, and the home season, Jamie Coyle rose highest in a crowded Ashford goalmouth to glance home a header to complete the score thus marking his one 100th start as a Dart.

Post-match, crowd favourite Tommy Osborne deservedly won the John Stevens Trophy as supporters’ player of the season, with a massive 33 percent of the vote.

Dartford: Young, Eferakorho, Gross, Flanagan, Coyle, Dafter (White 50), Hayes (Butterworth 77), Day, May, Carley (Woods-Garness 60), Noble. Subs not used: Guest, Ibrahim. Att: 883.