Dartford 3 Ebbsfleet United 1
Published: 09:19, 27 December 2012
Darts' Tom Champion, left, and Fleet's Neil Barrett duel. Picture: Andy Payton
Dartford came from behind to win 3-1 against Ebbsfleet in the first Boxing Day meeting of the two local rivals in 23 years.
After bossing much of the first half Liam Enver-Marum gave Fleet the lead after the break, but a brace from Harry Crawford and a fine strike by skipper Elliot Bradbrook ensured the points for Tony Burman's side.
Paul Lorraine saw a goal-bound shot blocked on the line by Tom Bonner as Fleet had the better of the opening exchanges in their first game in nearly three weeks. Despite the hosts coming back into the contest, Nathan Elder went close to an opener before half-time with a header which glanced wide.
However just three minutes after the interval Enver-Marum latched on to a long ball forward and sent in a low strike from an angle which slipped past Darts keeper Marcus Bettinelli to put Fleet ahead.
Bettinelli saved a diving header from Elder soon after as Fleet sought a second, but the hosts got back on track when Bonner played in Crawford just four minutes after they fell behind and the forward rounded Preston Edwards before slotting home.
The goal knocked Fleet's confidence and boosted the Darts as Jacob Erskine sent two good chances wide of Edwards' goal before Lorraine clipped the outside of the post with a header at the other end.
Crawford turned the game around with his second goal on 68 minutes, Lee Burns jinking down the right before pulling back for Crawford to drill home from 12 yards, and the clincher arrived 10 minutes from time when Bradbrook was given time and space to unleash a thunderous drive into the top corner from 20 yards.
Although Fleet's Tom Phipp did see a late drive from the edge of the box parried away by Bettinelli, Dartford stopped a run of four straight defeats.
The two sides will lock horns again on New Year's Day at Stonebridge Road. Before that, though, Fleet visit Luton on Saturday and Dartford host Cambridge United.
Read more
All Kent Sport Dartford Football Dartford Sport Ebbsfleet Football Football Gravesham SportMore by this author
KentOnline reporter