A brace for Jack Barham helps Dartford pick up a big three points at home to Havant and Waterlooville in the National League South. Josh Taylor pulled one back for the visitors before a late red card for Billy Clifford 

Steve King made one change to the side that beat Chippenham midweek with David Ijaha starting in place of Jordan Wynter, who wasn’t in the squad. 

Both sides came into the game unbeaten and it was the away side that started stronger and produced the first notable effort after a short corner routine resulted in a shot from Taylor being comfortably saved by King at his near post. 

As Dartford looked to play their way into the game their first chance also came from a corner but it was headed well wide by Ronnie Vint. 

It was the Darts who then started to take control and after some good passing Berkeley-Agyepong emerged striding with the ball and played in Braham-Barrett down the left. He was able to cut inside but his effort was high and wide. 

There was a big chance for the visitors to take the lead when a deep cross from Clifford was met by Diarra at the back post but he could only head wide. 

The sides went in level at half time after an even half with neither team able to trouble the opposition goalkeeper. 

A lively start to the second half from Dartford saw them win a penalty when Romain was brought down in the Havant box following a cut back from Barham. It was Barham who dispatched the penalty with Worner correctly diving to his right but there was too much power on it. 

A couple of minutes later Romain chested down a long ball into Jebb’s path who played in Barham behind the defence but his effort rolled wide of the far post. 

Then came a five minute onslaught from Havant as they searched for an equaliser starting when Straker played a delightful cross in to the box but Wright could only head wide. Straker was then able to find Iaciofano in the box but his shot was deflected wide. 

A couple of corners in quick succession caused havoc when the first resulted Diarra having an effort deflected wide and then Magri firing across the face of goal from the second. 

Dartford were almost able to extend their lead when Berkeley-Agyepong went on a mazy run and broke into the box but was unable to get the ball out of his feet to feed Barham. 

The visitors came back at Dartford though and Wright had an effort from the edge of the area that went wide. 

The hosts were able to weather the storm as the game calmed down for ten minutes before a foul from Diarra had the home side wanting to see a red card but the referee correctly produced a yellow. 

The free kick resulted in Dartford extending their lead after Barham headed the ball down into the far corner for his second of the afternoon. 

The game was far from over though and with ten minutes to go the away side were back in it. Taylor scored with a great strike from the edge of the box that found the bottom corner following some good hold up play by Sinclair. 

Only a few minutes later their task was made a lot harder when Clifford was sent off after picking up his second yellow card. 

In the final minutes they came close to equalising when Taylor was again allowed to shoot from range but his effort from outside the box went narrowly wide. 

The Darts were able to hold on to the win and remain unbeaten and top of the league. 

Dartford: King, Barnum-Bobb, Braham-Barrett, Ijaha, Vint, Bonner, Husin, Berkeley-Agyepong (Osman 90), Barham, Bakayoko (Romain 29), Jebb (Essam 87) 

Subs not used: Hill, McCallum 

Havant & Waterlooville: Worner, Straker, Diarra, Magri, Taylor, Clifford, Iaciofano (Sinclair 73), Robson, Gomis (Widdrington 67), Wright, Deacon (Ajakaiye 73) 

Subs not used: Poku, McLennan