Dartford travelled the short journey to Ashford on Tuesday night. Playing in wet and windy conditions, it was Ashford who took the lead on 32 minutes when Steve Marshall converted a penalty after Dave Scott hauled Steve Lovell down in the penalty area.

In the second half, Dartford had the wind with them, and on a few occasions, gave Ashford a scare. On 52 minutes, former Ashford player, Ian Ross hit a rocketing 30 yard volley which rattled the crossbar, and the nerves of Ashford.

Soon after, on 63 minutes, Ross drove another volley, this time along the ground from 25 yards which hit the upright, and rolled into the arms of former Darts keeper, Craig Tucker.

Following that, Dartford were put under heavy pressure for 5 minutes, in which an ensuing goalmouth scramble was cleared.

As Dartford chased the game, they were almost given a lifeline, when Lee Jones' free kick flashed past the Ashford defence to the back post, where both Luke Morrish and Chris Arnold couldnt get their heads to the ball, which cannoned off the post and wide.

In the dying moments, Ashford broke away one on one with Steve Williams, but the forward skewed his shot over the advancing keeper and wide of the goal.

Dartford: Williams, Adlington, Ross, Scott, Morrish, Roberts (Rose), Greatorex, Guiver, Arnold, Jones and Holbrook (McTaggart)