Dartford remain dangerously close to the National League South relegation zone after snatching defeat from the jaws of victory on Tuesday night.

The Darts, still under the management of caretaker boss Tony Burman, appeared on course for a welcome home win after Fumnaya Shomotun’s second-half opener but two goals in a four-minute spell turned the game on its head as play-off chasing Aveley snatched three points.

Dartford had Olly Box back to full fitness so he came into the starting line-up with Luke Coulson revelling in a new role as a second striker. Not for the first time, everything good about the Darts came through their captain.

The first chance of the night fell to Aveley after Jordan Wynter conceded possession cheaply, Kenny Aileru advanced but shot wide from 25 yards after ignoring possibly better options.

Dartford responded and the impressive Shomotun’s right-wing cross was nodded just wide at the near post by Ibby Akanbi.

Then Coulson, who continually found space where little appeared to exist, collected a long ball from keeper Billy Terrell and set up Akanbi but he didn’t have enough height on his lob and keeper Jonathan North - despite not being the tallest himself - was able to make the save.

Another Shomotun cross then created confusion in the Aveley defence and Box turned in Jack Smith’s shot but his celebrations were quickly halted by the offside flag.

Aveley had their best opening midway through the first half after Paul Rooney was caught out at the back but Eduino Vaz’s left-foot shot was well kept out by Terrell.

Darts were creating the better chances, though, and Tyrell Miller-Rodney’s shot was beaten away. Then Terrell’s long free-kick caught the visiting defence napping to pick out Akanbi in the box but his shot was blocked behind for a corner by Siju Odlusi.

Coulson and Akanbi combined to set up Box, who forced another decent stop from North but the Darts headed into the break goalless.

No doubt Dartford fans were waiting for Aveley to punish them for failing to find a breakthrough in the first half and the opening goal nearly arrived on 52 minutes. Vaz got ahead of Wynter in the box and pulled the ball back perfectly for Odlusi, whose goalbound shot was cleared off the line by Rooney. Then Arjanit Krasniqi fizzed a 20-yard free-kick inches over the crossbar.

Just when it looked like the visitors were going to gain a measure of control, Dartford took the lead. Shomotun cut inside on his left foot and arrowed a low shot beyond North into the far corner on 54 minutes.

Aveley immediately swapped to a back four and introduced Kai Brown to their attack.

Coulson’s lovely footwork nearly created a second goal as he appeared to have the ball on a piece of string before exchanging with Smith, only an untimely heavy touch denying Coulson a clear sight of goal inside the box.

Tyrell Miller-Rodney was booked for a challenge on Brown just past the hour mark before Coulson ran at the Aveley defence before seeing his left-foot shot deflect into the arms of the grateful North.

With defensive options already limited, Dartford’s cause was not helped for the final 20 minutes when they lost Rooney to injury. It prompted another reshuffle at the back.

Aveley’s Brown saw his shot deflected wide of the near post but the visitors drew level from the resulting corner. The ball was worked short for substitute Nana Keyi, who scored with his first touches as he drove low into the far corner beyond Terrell with 10 minutes left.

Darts then pressed the panic button as they left themselves one-on-one at the back when they launched their own free-kick into the Aveley penalty area. The visitors promptly broke and, having outmuscled Tom Clifford, Brown was upended in the box by Terrell.

Odlusi sent the Darts keeper the wrong way from the penalty spot and Aveley had a second goal in four minutes to turn the game on its head.

Aveley nearly added a third in stoppage time but Terrell made a smart stop to deny the lively Brown, who had been sent clean through on goal.

The result leaves Dartford just four points above the bottom four, and the teams immediately below them all have games in hand.

Dartford: Terrell, Wynter, Rooney (Maloney 69mins), Adebowale, Clifford, Smith, Miller-Rodney, Coulson, Shomotun, Akanbi (Wall 79mins), Box (Romain 89mins). Subs not used: Wray, Barzey.

Aveley: North, RIng, Vaz, Odlusi, Jones, Gibbs (Brown 57mins), Krasniqi, Terry, Coleman De Graft, Carr (Kelly 66mins), Aileru (Kyei 78mins). Subs not used: Ogunrinde, Eze.

Referee: George Warren.

Attendance: 801.