DARTFORD’S busy eight-day schedule against struggling opposition started off well on Saturday with a comfortable victory at Hampton & Richmond’s homely Beeveree Stadium.

It took Darts a while to adjust to the tight pitch hemmed in by the nearness of the terraces.

Before the visitors found their feet, they were a goal down when Esmond James set up James Simmonds and the striker hit home from inside the Dartford penalty area.

Unfazed, Dartford set about the task of putting matters right and created a few chances before rectifying matters on the half-hour when Elliot Bradbrook sent a looping header past home keeper Craig Rose at the far post.

By now the famed Dartford choir were in fine voice with drum-led chants of ‘Tony Burman’s black and white army’, which continued to the end of play and beyond.

The second half saw Dartford first take the lead then extend it beyond the home side’s reach.

Firstly, Bradbrook hit home a thunderous shot from almost 35 yards which left Rose clutching at thin air.

The goal is an obvious candidate for goal of the season.

Then Jacob Erskine out jumped the home defence to head home and complete the scoring.

He not only maintained his almost goal-a-game record but made amends for the goal he scored for the hosts when they played at Princes Park earlier in the season.

After seeing out the residue of the match Darts trooped off to the mixed news that Chelmsford had lost to home to Staines Town, whom Dartford visit tonight.

Assistant manager Paul Sawyer said: “It was a great goal from Elliot and you would say only one in 20 of those would usually go in.

“It came at the right time early in the second half because we had quite a few chances before the break and only took one of them.”

After tonight’s Staines game Dartford are at home to basement side Thurrock on Saturday (3pm), but Sawyer added his play-off chasing side will take nothing for granted.

“Thurrock beat us at home last year and have picked up a few decent results lately after changing things around there,” he said.

“All of the sides at the bottom are scrapping for their lives at the minute, so we already know there are no easy games in this league.”

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Dartford: Wells, Jones, Green, Bonner, Essam, Wallis, Noble (Hayes 38), Rogers (Graham 82), Erskine (Garrod 75), Bradbrook, Harris. Subs not used: Burns, Ibrahim. Att: 656