Following F.A. Cup shocks in the previous day, Dartford were hoping to create their own headlines when entertaining away specialists Swindon Town.
Those hopes were swept away in an opening twenty five minutes in which the football league side showed their pace and power.
In the early stages, things looked promising for Dartford. Lyle Della-Verde whipped over a cross that Alfie Pavey flicked on. Chaos ensued and the visitors were happy to clear.
Then Ryan Hayes’ corner was claimed at the second attempt by under pressure Reice Charles-Cook.
However, Swindon were looking dangerous in every attack and it was no real surprise when they went ahead. Deren Ibrahim beat out a cross from Amine Linganzi but only to Timi Elsnik who smashed home from fifteen yards.
Paul Mullin curled wide and Donal McDermott had a shot saved before Swindon went further ahead. McDermott went on a long run before squaring for Harry Smith to fire home from outside the area.
Three minutes later, Swindon as good as put the game to bed when Elsnik headed home from Matt Taylor’s cross.
McDermott had a shot deflected wide and Matty Preston headed wide from the corner as Swindon threatened to overwhelm Dartford but they stood firm and missed a great chance of their own.
Hayes put over a cross that Pavey knocked back but Alex Brown fired over when well placed.
Elsnik’s hopes of recording a hat-trick were dashed when he had to be substituted and Dartford finished the half strongly.
Charles-Cook made an excellent save from Elliott Bradbrook who got on the end of an angled Hayes cross then the keeper made another good save from the same man.
Another Hayes cross was knocked out as far as Ryan Noble and his effort flew just over.
If the Darts finished the half well, they started the second disastrously when a clearance came out to Linganzi who brought down on his chest and volleyed home from 25 yards.
After Bradbrook was fouled, Hayes flashed the resulting free kick wide before Swindon made it five. Ben Purkiss sent in a low cross and Mullin stuck out a leg to prod home.
Tom Bonner had a header saved at the second attempt from a Hayes cross before John Goddard’s clever effort was inches away from making it six.
Smith also came close with a header saved brilliantly by Ibrahim.
In the latter stages Bradbrook’s overhead effort flew well over before another effort was saved easily.
Nine minutes remained when Dartford claimed a consolation. Tom Murphy’s shot was deflected by Bonner onto the post and flew across the goal where Richard Sho-Silva finished from close range.
Dartford: Ibrahim, Harris, Onyemah, Bonner, Sho-Silva, Brown (Wood 65), Hayes (Mfula 65), Bradbrook, Pavey, Noble, Della-Verde (Murphy 53).
Unused substitutes: Vint, Coxall, Fulton, Anwieh.
Swindon Town: Charles-Cook, Purkiss, Lancashire, Dunne, Taylor, Linganzi, Smith, McDermott (Gordon 72), Elsnik (Goddard 37), Mullin (Woolery 53), Preston.
Unused substitutes :Henry, Robertson, Iandola, Knoyle.
Referee: Darren Drysdale
Assistants: Michael Webb and Rob Smith
4th Official: George Warren
Dartford:
Goals: Sho-Silva (81)
Yellow cards: Hayes
Red cards
Swindon Town:
Goals: Elsnik (12) and (25), Smith (22), Linganzi (46), Smith (49)
Yellow cards
Red cards:
Attendance: 2,705
Dartford star player: Lee Noble