Dartford ended their seven-game winless run in style thanks to a wondergoal from teenage centre-back George Whitefield.

The Darts dominated their Isthmian Premier clash at Princes Park but it needed something special late on to post a first home league success since August for Ady Pennock’s men.

Dartford dominated the first half and should have had the game wrapped up by the break.

Duane Ofori-Acheampong’s early drive warmed the palms of keeper R’avan Constable before Samir Carruthers’ vision saw him try an early long-range shot that failed to catch out the visiting keeper.

It needed a good save from Darts keeper Jacob Marsden to deny former Tonbridge forward Tommy Wood a 10th-minute opener but, thereafter, it was one-way traffic.

Denzelle Olopade nearly added another spectacular long-range goal to his collection on 13 minutes but Constable was at full stretch to push away his 25-yard shot.

Ofori-Acheampong had the ball in the net a minute later from Josh Hill’s header down but the flag was up for offside.

Then Callum Jones did well down the right and crossed for Ofori-Acheampong who failed to get enough contact to turn the ball home inside the six-yard box.

Jeremiah Pinder’s shot was deflected wide and George Whitefield headed the resulting corner over.

Dartford should have gone ahead on 31 minutes as Sam Odaudu did well to keep the ball alive and when Olopade’s shot was initally blocked, the ball came back out to him just three yards out but his follow-up came back off the post.

The goal finally arrived on 35 minutes via the penalty spot. Odaudu was brave to get to the ball ahead of the onrushing Constable, who left referee Teddy Osborn no option but to award the spot-kick. After a two-minute delay as Odaudu received treatment, Carruthers’ spot-kick just had enough to beat the keeper.

Perhaps understandably for a team that had gone so long without a home win, Dartford finished the half in nervy fashion. There were yellow cards for Pinder and Hill before Magloire Muyembe’s header hit the post, and the same player was then denied by an excellent one-handed save from Marsden with the last touch of the half.

The second half proved a more even affair, with Marsden again doing well to deny Vas Vasiliou after his first-time volley from an excellent Fionn Murphy left-wing cross.

Cheshunt then gifted the ball straight to Jones but his shot was beaten away by Constable.

In a flash the visitors raced to the other end and Vasiliou’s cross was deftly turned in at the near post by Wood for a 62nd-minute equaliser.

Odaudu’s cross-shot was then turned behind by Constable and then Odaudu’s header from a deep corner was cleared off the line as Dartford looked to respond.

It was going to take something special to beat Constable again - and so it proved. There seemed little danger as the ball was switched to Whitefield but the young centre-back stepped forward into space and let fly an absolute rocket from 35 yards into the top corner.

There was one nervy moment in stoppage time but it was a well-deserved three points for the Darts in the end.

Dartford: Marsden, Whitefield, Williams, Hil, Odaudu, Olopade, Christian-Law (Brand 80mins), Pinder (Nayler 80mins), Jones, Ofori-Acheampong (Box 63mins), Carruthers. Subs not used: Atkinson, Campbell.

Cheshunt: Constable, Bryan Waugh, Murphy, Muyembe, Da Silva, Furlong, Vasilio, Thomas, Nalbant (Braney 46mins), Gibson Hammond (Bisau 87mins), Wood (Granville 80mins). Subs not used: Curran, Akolbire.

Referee: Teddy Osborn.

Attendance: 863.