Dartford rescued a point at home to Eastleigh thanks to Harry Crawford’s added time strike after being 2-0 down at half time and it seemed no hope with Eastleigh absolutely controlling the game.

Second half goals from Elliot Bradbrook and Crawford cancelled out goals from Jamie Collins from the penalty spot and James Constable tap in.

Early season strugglers Dartford welcomed Hampshire based vanarama conference new boys Eastleigh to Princes Park on Tuesday evening.

Eastleigh had started the season brightly and began the game in the last play off spot in the division with the football league experiences from the likes of James constable and Jack Midson behind their early season form.

In contrast, Dartford have struggled with their reprieve from relegation with their only win coming at their last home game against Telford.

Dartford made 4 changes from the defeat on Saturday at Altrincham, with Ryan Hayes, Tom Bradbrook, Lee Burns and Harry Crawford coming into the side for Lee Noble, Danny Harris, Nathan Collier and Andy Pugh. Eastleigh started unchanged from the side that narrowly defeated Southport on Saturday.

There was a late change to the Eastleigh bench however when their sub keeper Lewis Noice went down and was carried away on a stretcher with his right leg in a brace.

Eastleigh had the first opportunity of the game with less than 2 minutes gone when the ball fell Ben Strevens who first time ball found jai reason who curled inches wide from Jason brown’s left post.

Five minutes in and Dartford had their first opportunity. Luke Daley received Ryan Hayes throw in on the right hand side, turned his man before getting a shot away which Ross flitney fumbled before the Eastleigh defence cleared.

In a frenetic opening 10 minutes, Jack Midson also warmed the gloves of Dartford keeper Jason Brown from the edge of the area. Eastleigh won a penalty in the 12th minute when James Constable dispossessed Elliot Bradbrook on the edge of the area running back towards his own goal.

Constable went over under the challenge of Jason brown and Jamie Collins coolly dispatched the penalty to the keepers right to give Eastleigh the lead that their start deserved. Eastleigh continued to dominate the early stages and were to further extend their lead in the 22nd minute.

James constable rolled the ball along the edge of the area to Jai Reason whose low shot cannoned off the post back into the path of constable who slotted the rebound home. Dartford were really struggling to keep possession of the ball, inviting pressure, and if it wasn’t for some good blocks, Eastleigh would have gone further ahead and put the game out of sight with little over 30 minutes gone.

Dartford continued to offer very little with Eastleigh keeper Ross Flitney having a very comfortable half, claiming a few crosses with ease.

Eastleigh were very comfortable as the half time whistle blew and deserving of their 2-0 lead whereas Dartford had offered very little, showing that the early table is no lie.

The second half started much the same as the first half with Eastleigh dominating possession, When Jai Reason was fouled centrally 30 yards out, his free kick was deflected just over for a corner.

From the resultant corner, mayhem occurred with numerous shots being blocked. From their next attack, there were big appeals for a second Eastleigh penalty when Midson’s knock down found Reason whose shot was blocked by Mat Mitchel-King. From the resultant block, Dartford counter attacked and won a corner down the left.

The corner from sub Lee Noble found Elliot Bradbrook at the back post who headed home from 8 yards. The Darts were suddenly back in this game, the passion that seemed to be lacking in the first half was back, with lost causes being chased down and second balls being won.

This added enthusiasm saw Elliot Bradbrook go in the book for a late challenge in the centre circle. Dartford continued to battle hard but with little attacking threat as the second half wore on.

With time running out, Dartford proved they could pass the football and after a move that started in the left back position, Elliot Bradbrook burst through before shooting just over from the edge of the area.

Eastleigh forced Jason Brown into his first save of the second half with 87 minutes on the watch, Stuart Fleetwood released down the right before linking up with James Constable, his ball out left into the path of Jai Reason caused Brown to dive low to his left to keep out Reason curling first time effort.

With the added time reaching minute two of the allotted four, a knockdown on the edge of the Eastleigh box made its way to Harry Crawford who drilled in to the bottom right corner from the edge of the area.

Cue Pandemonium in the stands, The Darts left it late but come home from their evenings work with a share of the points.
Dartford: Brown, Green ( Collier 55), McAuley, E Bradbrook ©, Hayes ( Noble 52), Daley, Mitchel-King, Sweeney, Crawford, Burns, T Bradbrook ( Harris 77)

Subs not used: Anidugbe, Ibrahim

Eastleigh: Flitney, Spence, Green, Collins, Beckwith © ( Todd 80), Constable, Reason, McAllister ( Lee 75), Midson ( Fleetwood 65) , Strevens, Reid.

Subs not used: Odubade, Evans.

Attendance: