Alex Wall’s hat-trick ensured Dartford moved a step closer to nailing down second place in National League South.

The striker took his league tally for the campaign to 11 goals as the Darts ensured champions-elect Ebbsfleet had to delay any potential title celebrations, whatever their result at Taunton.

Dartford made five changes, bringing in Ben Dudzinski for Dan Wilks in goal. Also coming into the side were on-loan Charlton full-back Richard Chin, Jernade Meade, Jordan Wynter and striker Harvey Bradbury.

Along with Wilks, also missing were Jack Smith and Pierre Fonkeu while Samir Carruthers and Luke Allen were only on the bench.

It meant a starting line-up included four potential full-backs, Dowson opting to use Chin on the right of midfield and Odaudu alongside Wynter in midfield.

Dartford were handed a dream start inside seven minutes Odaudu nearly played in Luke Coulson but keeper Charlie Grainger was out smartly to save, only to then spill the ball. It went straight to the feet of Bradbury, who square for Alex Wall to tuck home his ninth league goal of the season into an empty net.

It was a largely stop-start first half-hour with a number of Dulwich injuries disrupting any flow to the game. The most notable was a head injury to former Darts full-back Sanchez Ming who was injured when clearing to deny Bradbury a clear sight of goal.

Max Statham set up Wall but his right-foot drive was saved at the near post by Grainger before Chin lead a Dartford breakaway which ended with Coulson’s right-foot shot going straight at the visiting keeper.

Both of Dartford’s central midfield duo picked up yellow cards before half-time, Odaudu taking out Ming and then Wynter halting Kristian Campbell’s progress as the former Darts man burst forward.

That free-kick led to Dulwich’s only effort of the half. The initial free-kick by Campbell hit the defensive wall and he then put the rebound wide from 25 yards.

Dartford thought they had doubled their lead in stoppage time but referee Stephen Parkinson ruled out another tap-in for Wall after Statham was adjudged to have fouled at the far post from a corner.

Wall was at it again with two goals in three minutes early in the second half to effectively wrap up the points.

Coulson fed him on the edge of the box after 50 minutes, the striker taking a touch before brilliantly firing beyond Grainger.

Then Statham delivered a cross from the right that strikers only dream about, a trademark Wall header completing his treble.

Wall was replaced just past the hour mark, with Darts boss Dowson giving a debut to Bobby Dunn.

Grainger then produced a fine save to deny Connor Essam from another Coulson delivery into the area.

Substitute Josh Fawole headed wide from a Frankie Raymond free-kick with 15 minutes left as Dulwich hardly called Dudzinski into serious action with a toothless display going forward.

It took 85 minutes for a first effort on target but Dudzinski made a smart stop to deny Fawole and the Darts immediately went up the other end and added a fourth goal, Bradbury turning and finishing smartly inside the area.

Dartford: Dudzinski, Chin, Essam, Bonner, Meade, Statham, Coulson, Wynter, Odaudu (Allen 76mins), Wall (Dunn 62imins), Bradbury. Subs not used: Carruthers, Murtagh, Napa.

Dulwich: Grainger, Ming, Lawless (Powell 72mins), Stephens, Mills, Taylor (Raymond 66mins), Porter, Woodman, Felix, Campbell, Crichlow (Fawole 54mins). Subs not used: Jones, Vint.

Referee: Stephen Parkinson.

Attendance: 1,202.