CHARLIE Sheringham grabbed a brace as 10-man Dartford defied the odds to hammer promotion-chasing Farnborough 4-1 at Princes Park on Saturday.

The lasting memory of this entertaining game will be of the bandage-headed Tom Champion driving home his side’s third goal, which epitomised Darts' fighting spirit kindled following the dismissal of the lively Lee Noble.

Noble saw red for apparently raising a knee when going for a 50-50 ball with visiting keeper Michael Jordan 10 minutes before half-time.

Farnborough had started brightly enough but it was Dartford who scored first when Sheringham coolly converted a 10th minute penalty, awarded when Noble was floored from behind when surging through on goal.

Eight minutes later, Farnborough were level when a long pass reached Michael Malcolm and his lay-off found Bradley Bubb, whose shot beat Andrew Young despite the Darts stopper getting a hand to the ball.

Winger Malcolm should have put the visitors in front but his long-range shot hit the underside of the bar and bounced clear.

Darts were coping well enough with the visitors and, inspired by Noble’s twisting runs, were giving as good as they got until the dismissal.

Farnborough went flat out in the final ten minutes for a half-time lead but didn't get it Whatever was said in the home dressing room had its effect.

Darts came out and immediately revived memories of last season by killing the game off with a flurry of goals.

After just three minutes of the restart, a well-worked move saw Sheringham coolly score with a well-hit goal from inside the visiting area.

It was 3-1 eight minutes later when Tom Champion rounded off a flowing move with a thundering volley, which left visiting keeper Michael Jordan rooted to the ground.

The final nail in Farnborough’s coffin came from a long left-side throw from Tom Bonner, which substitute Danny Harris back-headed past Jordan from close in.

Things went from bad to worse for Farnborough as James Smith and Jack King collided and were led off with six minutes left.

Sadly, with but one substitute left, the visitors played out the final minutes also with 10 men.

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Dartford: Young, Burgess, Bonner, Bruce, Goodacre, Champion, Noble, White (Harris 45), Sheringham (Rook 90), Main (Jonesd 89), Bradbrook. Subs not used: Hayes, Ibraham. Att: 1,010.