DARTFORD overcame Lowestoft at Princes Park on Saturday to progress to the next stage of the FA Cup.

The Darts drafted in Carl Rook for his first start of the season, contrasting with keeper Andrew Young who added one to the 99 starts he has already accumulated for the club.

Kicking to the Jimmy Hill end Lowestoft gave a demonstration of the old-fashioned Isthmian style of the long ball out of defence for wingers to chase and deliver crosses into the box.

They did mix it, though, with slick inter-passing through midfield. .

Darts were prepared for the onslaught and the back line were solid with Young in fine handling fettle. Not too much was seen of Darts as an attacking force and the fickle wind played havoc with the Hayes crosses.

Lee Burns suffered a back strain late on in the half, and was replaced by Danny Harris.

Half-time adjustments in the home changing room saw a noticeable change in Dartford and two goals in the space of a few minutes put them in front.

First a left-side Hayes corner was knocked on to Rook to head past keeper Andy Reynolds.

Before the dust had settled, a long throw from near the left corner flag allowed Harris to double the score from close in.

Normally the opposition caves in at this point but Lowestoft are a different kettle of fish and, after producing a couple of yellow-carded tackles, they went out to reduce the deficit.

They did so with six minutes left when Dale Cockrell netted from inside the box but Darts saw out the remaining time to book a place in the next round.

There were some mutterings we didn’t really test Reynolds as much as we should but, in the end, he fished the ball out of his net twice as often as Youngie. And there’s no answer to that!

Dartford: Young, Bonner, Gross, Bruce, Goodacre, Shinn, Hayes (White 78), Champion, Rook, Burns (Harris 43), Bradbrook (Noble 61). Subs not used: Sheringham, Medlin, J Burman, Whitehouse. Att: 1,024.