After a tight first half, Dartford bossed the second period and ran out worthy winners at Welling United.
Darren McQueen scored a brace in the 14th and 43rd minute and Elliott Romain rounded off the scoring in the 63rd minute.
Hugo Langton took charge of the Welling team in Mark Goldberg’s absence but it was Steve King, manager of Welling last season but now in charge at Dartford, who went home with a smile on his face.
In the early stages, Welling looked good and Moses Emmanuel fired just wide of the bar and post angle before Bradley Goldberg had a shot deflected wide after Rob Swaine knocked down Connor Dymond’s free kick.
Welling then had a huge shout for a penalty when a defender blocked Emmanuel’s shot with his arm but it was Dartford who were awarded a penalty shortly afterwards.
Darren McQueen burst into the penalty area and was fouled by Connor Dymond. Dymond was cautioned before McQueen replaced Elliott Romain as penalty taker and he fired home from the spot.
Anthony Cook’s low shot was saved by Alhaji Sesay before Elliott shot wide from twenty yards.
Emmanuel chipped beyond the far post before Sesay made a fine save when Goldberg got on the end of Cook’s free kick. Swaine followed up but his shot was deflected wide.
Then came another big moment. Goldberg caught a ponderous Ronnie Vint in possession and the Dartford centre back pulled him down as he burst through. The referee decided that there was sufficient cover and brandished a yellow card but another referee could easily have seen it differently. Cook took the free kick but fired beyond the far post.
Romain headed wide from Ky Marsh-Brown’s corner before Joe Anderson twice created chances for Goldberg. His first opening wouldn’t come down for him and he lost the angle allowing a defender to block for a corner. Then he flick volleyed the last chance of the half wide of the near post.
After the interval Vint’s first time shot went wide from Marsh-Brown’s free kick before Dartford claimed the crucial second. The impressive Tyrique Hyde sent McQueen clear and he gave Dan Wilks no chance with his finish.
Soon after he should have completed his hat-trick when his pace again got him in behind but he slightly over-ran it and spun and scooped it well beyond the far post.
Moments later, Romain continued his hot run when catching Swaine in position and fired low into the bottom corner from just inside the penalty area.
Theo Widdrington fired well over then Sesay saved from Cook before Wilks made a good low save from Hyde to stop Dartford from making it four.
Danny Waldren fired well over for Welling before Charlie Sheringham wasted a late chance for Dartford but by then the game was over with Dartford victorious.
Welling United: Wilks, Dymond, Anderson, Agyemang, Swaine, Okosieme (Rich-Baghuelou 54), Emmanuel (Cosgrave 58), Widdrington, Henry, Goldberg (Waldren 64), Cook.
Subs not used: Akinyemi, Green.
Yellow cards: Dymond, Cook, Emanuel
Dartford: Sesay, Ming, Gordon, Wynter, Vint, Bonner, Hyde, Crook, Elliott (Sheringham 78), McQueen (Hayes 85), Marsh-Brown (Wanadio 64).
Subs not used: Hill, Hayes, Liburd.
Goalscorers: McQueen pen (14), (48), Romain (63)
Yellow cards: Sesay, Vint, Wynter
Referee: Steven Hughes
Assistants: Ciaran Fidler and Alexander Bradley
Attendance: 1,459