By Stephen McCartney

DARTFORD booked their place in the final qualifying round of the FA Cup as they fought back from going a goal behind to see off Cray Wanderers.

The Ryman Premier League hosts took the lead in the 47th minute through Tommy Whitnell’s 10th goal of the season.

But it was the Conference South visitors who progressed as winger Ryan Hayes and substitute Danny Harris scored in the final 20 minutes.

Cray Wanderers weren’t fazed in front of their largest crowd of the season of 690 as they began on the front foot with right-back Sam Long swinging in a free-kick which was palmed around the post by visiting keeper Andrew Young.

Dartford weathered the early storm, but created just one first half chance when Tom Champion’s glancing header was comfortably caught by Andy Walker halfway through a tight first half.

However, the game sparked into life as Cray broke the stalemate in the 47th minute.

A penetrating run from Jack Clark made progress into the Dartford area and Whitnell swept a right-footed shot past Young from 12-yards.

Dartford immediately squandered an excellent chance to draw level just two minutes later when Cray keeper Andy Walker parried Adam Green’s low drive but Hayes missed a sitter, firing wide of the far post from two yards.

Cray will regret missing a great chance just before the hour mark when Lewis Perkins’ left-footed drive from the edge of the box brought a smart low save from Young.

Dartford showed their resolve and character as they levelled in the 72nd minute when Hayes whipped in a left-footed free-kick from 40-yards, which flew past the impeded Walker and bounced into the top far corner.

And Dartford won the game nine minutes later when substitute striker Harris drilled a deflected shot past Walker from the edge of the box after a move involving Charlie Sheringham and Hayes.

Deflated Cray manager Ian Jenkins felt an offside decision didn’t go in his favour in the build-up to the winner, as his side’s FA Cup campaign came to an end.

Jenkins said : “We played all right, I’m just disappointed with the result.

“A couple of decisions went against us and I wasn’t happy with the officials, but that’s the way things go in the FA Cup, you get a bit of luck and Dartford had theirs today.

“We’re playing against a team that’s second in their division and you’re playing well and when you score a goal and you start believing.

“They’ve got to come and beat us and they did that with a little bit of help, fair play to them.

“On another day, we could have nicked the result and we would’ve been in the next round.”

Dartford manager Tony Burman said: “We’ve gone a goal down, but you’ve got to match these teams for their battling qualities.

“We knew it was going to be a battle and it was. We said at half-time, with good players, the little bit of quality comes out when people get tired.

“We were a bit fortunate with the free-kick that’s gone in but after that we were in control of the game.

“We played a little bit more intelligently and we managed to get another goal as well.

“It’s not the greatest performance but it’s a potential banana skin and we matched their work-rate and enthusiasm.

“Cray are a decent side and they’re good friends of mine over here. We’ve always had tough games against them. We knew it was going to be difficult.”

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Cray: Walker, Long, Dolby (Obed 76), Day (Power 85), Willy, Sterling, Whitnell, Saunders, Perkins (Bremner 71), Phillips, Clark. Subs not used: Coleman, Parkinson, Lozano, Hall.

Dartford: Andrew, Burns, Green, Bonner, Goodacre, Champion, Hayes (Noble 85), Rogers, Sheringham, Bradbrook, Graham (Harris 60). Subs not used: Pallen, Cooper, Ibrahim.