Dartford’s relegation concerns continued with defeat at home to F.C. Halifax Town on Saturday afternoon.

Although they had opportunities, the Darts were not clinical enough in front of goal and few present could dispute that the visitors were worthy winners.

Adam Smith, a thorn in a side for Dartford throughout, had the first opening for the Shaymen but shot wildly after creating it himself.

Marc Roberts’ long throw caused chaos in the Darts’ defence but Lois Maynard’s header drifted harmlessly wide.

Elliot Bradbrook registered Dartford’s first effort on target but his header from Dave Martin’s free kick was claimed comfortably by Matty Glennon in the Halifax goal.

Matt Godden held the ball up well from a long clearance before laying back to Martin whose long range low effort was turned round the post by Glennon.

Smith crossed deep to Joe Ironside but the loanee from Sheffield United headed straight to a grateful Alan Julian.

Julian was well beaten soon after but Josh Wilson’s header from Paul Marshall’s free kick came back off the inside of the post. Marshall was cautioned shortly after for a foul on Bradbrook, Godden netted from Martin’s through ball but was clearly offside and the ‘goal’ was disallowed.

Ironside found himself clear on goal just before the break but Julian got down well to push round the post at full stretch.

Tyrone Sterling’s low cross early in the second period almost caught everyone out but rebounded off the foot of the post into Glennon’s arms.

Three saves by Julian kept Halifax out. First he made a brilliant save from Smith after he had twisted and turned the Darts’ defence inside out before launching a fierce left foot drive.

Then he did well to turn away a low long range shot by Matty Pearson at the cost of a corner.

Finally, he made another great save from Ironside following a dangerous Smith cross that was only half cleared.

Dartford looked to have weathered the storm and Danny Harris, who had replaced Adam Birchall, found himself clean through but shot meekly at Glennon.

After surviving a goalmouth scramble set up by Lee Noble’s pull back inside the six yard box, Halifax made the breakthrough in the 62^nd minute.

Ironside got into another great position and gave Julian no chance with a clinical finish.

Godden came close to equalising almost immediately but shot wide of the near post and Halifax doubled their lead in the 73^rd minute.

Once again Smith was the architect. After some fancy footwork on the touchline, he made space and crossed to the far post where Wilson rose to head home powerfully.

Noble’s cross was deflected onto the top of the crossbar and away for a corner but Dartford struggled to create clear cut openings.

The Darts did get themselves back into the game with five minutes remaining when Connor Essam rose to head beyond Glennon.

Hopes of getting something out of the game were ended when Martin missed a glorious chance at the near post from a low Harris cross.

 

Dartford: Julian, Sterling, Clark, Noble (Cornhill 80), Bradbrook, Essam, Birchall (Harris 60), Martin, Burns, Godden, Stevenson.

Unused substitutes: Mitchel-King, Collier, Woodyard.

F.C. Halifax Town: Glennon, McManus, Pearson, Smith, Gardener (Worthington 71), Wilson, Roberts, Marshall, Maynard. Ainge, Ironside (Holsgrove 86).

Unused substitutes: Senior, Patterson, Love.

Referee: Paul Rees

Attendance: 952

Dartford star player: Elliot Bradbrook.