The Darts remained top of the Vanarama National League South Division coming from behind to draw with an in-form Concord Rangers side.

However The Darts were guilty of missing an early penalty and not converting a dominant second-half display but on the other hand grateful to the woodwork saving them on two separate occasions.

The Beachboys, despite their lowly league position are now thirteen games unbeaten and were buoyed on by their biggest crowd this season to date – No doubt bolstered by a loud and numerous away following – The Dart’s on the other hand are unbeaten in four and remain the divisions pacesetters two points clear of the field and are still the team to beat.

Concord started the brightest with good spells of composed possession but despite this it was The Darts who missed a guilt-edge chance to take the early lead.

Fifteen yards out The Darts’ Danny Mills had his standing foot taken from him inside the penalty area and referee Ian Fissenden had no hesitatation in pointing to the spot – Captain Elliott Bradbrook stepped up but saw his poorly taken spot kick saved low to Louis Wells’ right hand side and the ensuing danger was cleared.

Mills’ physical presence was proving a handful for Concord as the loanee turned in the box but saw his goal-bound effort charged down, Andy Pugh on hand to collect the rebound but shot straight at home ‘keeper Wells.

The home side were the ones to draw first blood and took the lead shortly after the quarter-hour mark. Ben Greenhalgh cut inside from the right-hand touchline yet saw Deren Ibrahim push his curling effort away only for Steve Cawley to have anticipated the loose ball to poke home from inside the six-yard box.

Shaken, Dartford almost went two-down as Harry Lee shot from range and with the aid of a slight deflection the ball went past Ibrahim’s left-hand post – The Dartford ‘keeper hastily moving across his goal suggesting it wasn’t too far away.

The Darts regained their composure and with it opportunities on goal returned in their favour as Mills found enough space 25yds out to curl an effort on goal which Wells gathered easily whilst Mark Onyemah also profited from space on the edge of the box but in seeing his drive fly past Wells’ despairing dive the ball struck the post and the danger cleared.

Just shy of the interval The Darts’ Ryan Hayes caused mayhem with his corner in and around the penalty spot but the home side had sufficient numbers back to clear the danger and The Beachboys almost doubled their lead as Amos Nasha Jr cut inside and curled an effort from range just over the angle of post and bar whilst Cawley saw his header go over Ibrahim but onto the roof of the net rather than under it.

The second half proved to be a positive one overall for The Darts but for an early effort for Concord as Greenhalgh sweetly curled a free-kick around the defensive wall and away from Ibrahim who could only watch and was grateful to watch it come back off the post.

However the game shifted in The Darts’ favour thereafter with Pugh seeing his clse-range go narrowly wide of the far post and a right-footed effort well saved by Wells.

The visitors were beginning to display their dominance as league leaders and Ryan Hayes got the reward. The Dartford man, afforded too much space, crashed home from the right hand corner of the penalty area to the delight of the travelling support.

Tom Murphy then ghosted in at the back post but saw his glancing header go agonisingly wide of the far post.

Substitute Alfie Pavey, with eighteen goals so far this campaign, almost added to his total with a fine effort 12yds out but Wells was more than equal to it forcing the ball over the crossbar.

Wells was certainly the busier of the two in goal this time on hand to stretch to his left to keep out Hayes’ drive.

Typically The Darts almost rued their missed chances and second half display in the closing stages as The Beachboys registered a rare attack on goal and almost snatched the three points as a shot from the edge of area beat Ibrahim with the onlooking Darts’ players breathing a sigh of relieve as the ball crashed off the underside of the crossbar yet came out with the danger cleared.

Concord: Wells, Girdlestone, Brown, Lee, Knight, Roast, Da Costa (Farrell, 41), Nasha Jr, Akinwande (King, 81), Cawley ©, Greenhalgh

Subs: Topley, Smith, Marsh

Goals: Cawley (16)

Dartford: Ibrahim, Harris, Onyemah, Bonner, Vint, Collier, Hayes, Bradbrook ©, Mills (Pavey, 61), Pugh (Ofori-Acheampong, 77), Murphy (Della-Verde, 87)

Subs: Sho-Silva, Coxall

Goals: Hayes (56)

Att: 485