A solitary predatory goal on the stroke of half time separated these two local neighbours, but in truth there was only one winner – and that was the stifling temperatures that saw one “official” drinks break in each half, and players grabbing water bottles from the touchlines whenever they could throughout the game!

Andy Pugh’s strike would have pleased Darts boss Tony Burman as he followed up well after unlucky home keeper Rob Budd had produced a fine save to deny Danny Harris.

And Burman would have been equally pleased with his new signing Luke Daley from Braintree who looked sharp down the left and indeed had the game’s first chance firing wide of Budd’s left post.

The home side – for whom new signing from AFC Hornchurch defender Michael Spence did well – did well to match their opponents from three divisions higher of course without really troubling keeper Jason Brown, although Stuart Zanone kept the former Welsh international on his toes fizzing a drive across the face of goal.

That said Mead keeper Budd was the busier and had to be at his brilliant best to deny Adam Green’s header from a left wing corner – the defender escaped his marker to power a header goalwards which Budd performed heroics to keep out.

That only delayed the inevitable as on the stroke of half time, the Darts took advantage of some very poor and loose midfield play to escape down the inside right channel with Harris, and although Budd stood up well and made a fine save to deny the Dartford no 9, Pugh was following up and slammed the rebound home despite the best efforts of Tom Jewers to block.

The second half saw the usual multiple changes and temperatures rising still further as players on both sides visibly wilted – along with members of the crowd – and as such the pace of the game was almost reduced to walking pace and the only clear chances of note fell to the home side as Pugh’s free header flew over, and then Green found himself the only player in the box to meet Callum Driver’s cross, but just couldn’t keep his header down!

And so as the final countdown now begins in earnest for all clubs, Burman will be pleased with the workout and the endurance test that his side came through, and for Keith McMahon, the Thamesmead supremo returning from holiday will await a report from his coaching staff as the Mead look for an immediate bounce back from the Ryman Premier relegation in May.

THAMESMEAD STARTING LINE UP – Rob Budd, Michael Spencer, Ashley Probets, Tom Jewers, Lewis Tozer, Josh James, Sean Roberts, Rashid Kamara, Leslie Thompson, Stuart Zanone, Justin Ascheri

DARTFORD STARTING LINE UP – Jason Brown, Callum Driver, Adam Green, Rory McAulley, Grant Basey, Mat Mitchell King, Ryan Hayes, Lee Noble, Danny Harris, Andy Pugh, Luke Daley