Dartford are in the Kent Reliance Kent Senior Cup Final for the first time in five years since beating Bromley back in 2011 after an “away” win against their tenants Greenwich Borough.

With the Darts still having a National League South Play Off place in their sights, they did just enough to reach May’s Final against either neighbours Ebbsfleet United or Charlton Athletic courtesy of goals from Ronnie Vint and George Sykes, and although Borough pulled a goal back in stoppage time from Michael Power, the SCEFL leaders will have been disappointed that their first sortee into the Kent Senior Cup will have ended at the penultimate hurdle.

Greenwich had the first chance of an absorbing contest when centre half Danny Young beat Darts keeper Deren Ibrahim to a corner only for his header to also beat the crossbar.

Peter Sweeney then went close from distance and the “home” side enjoyed the better chances, until that is the Darts took the lead when Vint fired home after Barry Cogan’s free kick wasn’t cleared properly by the Borough defence.

It was a lead that Dartford could and perhaps have extended before the break as Sykes headed a great chance wide.

But then Borough will consider that they were unfortunate not to be level by half time as Mo Eisa shot wide with only Ibrahim to beat.

Ten minutes after the break and Sykes powered another Cogan ball into the box just over Craig Holloway’s bar as the difference between the two sides became more obvious as the Darts looked like a National League side particularly at the back, as the Borough were much more restricted in their attacking options.

Sykes then turned provider for Cogan as he shot into the crowd on his return from injury, and there were just three minutes left when the Darts made sure of a place in the Final, when Sykes finally got his name on the scoresheet.  Andy Pugh and Ryan Hayes combined well down the right, and from Hayes’ pinpoint cross, Sykes expertly buried his header beyond Holloway and into the net.

To their credit, Greenwich kept going and pulled a goal back as time expired. Substitute Power drilled the ball home from Ryan Dolby’s square pass, but it was too little too late, and the Darts will now await their opponents in the Final from next Tuesday’s second Semi-Final at Stonebridge Road.

Greenwich – Holloway, Paul, Borrowdale, Sweeney, Kinch, Young, Jalloh (Dolby), Britnell, Eisa (Mbela), Wade, Youngs (Power).

Subs: Johnson, Clark

Dartford – Ibrahim, Gardiner, Onyemah (Harris), Vint, Wynter, Noble (Hayes), Dembele, Bradbrook, Sykes, Cogan (Pugh), Simmons.

Subs: Francis, Golding