Dartford piled the pressure on title rivals Havant with a narrow victory at East Thurrock on Tuesday night.

Danny Mills' header with just 12 minutes left was enough to seal three precious points in Essex.

It meant a fifth clean sheet from seven games in a winning run for Dartford - who are now three points clear in National League South with just two games remaining. Havant have three matches to play.

Boss Tony Burman named an unchanged starting line-up while keeper Deren Ibrahim was replaced on the bench by Lyle Della-Verde.

Mills, fresh from his winner at Eastbourne on Saturday, was Dartford's best option going forward in the first half.

As early as the ninth minute, his cross from the left was headed over the bar by Andy Pugh at the far post.

Mills then produced the best save of the opening half from East Thurrock keeper Lucas Lidakevicius, who did well to tip over his header.

The on-loan Ebbsfleet forward then fired wide from the edge of the box as Dartford dominated the opening 20 minutes.

East Thurrock were not here just to make up the numbers, however, and they grew into the half and put together some neat moves.

Skipper Sam Higgins always posed a threat up top and Lewis Smith proved a willing runner alongside him.

Higgins flashed a shot wide from distance and as the half went on Dartford's ability to create chances diminished with Alfie Pavey often an isolated striker as they were forced to defend in numbers.

East Thurrock went close seven minutes into the second half but Joe Christou's long-range drive went inches wide of the upright.

It was the home side who posed a threat on the break. Higgins held off Tom Bonner but took an early shot that keeper Berti Schotterl saved comfortably.

Then Higgins drilled the ball across the face of goal but no-one was there to get a telling touch.

Dartford too often went too direct, the offside flag regularly thwarting leading scorer Pavey.

Injury forced off Pugh with just over 20 minutes remaining, Ryan Hayes coming on down the right wing in his place.

And it was Hayes who played a telling role when Dartford went ahead with 12 minutes remaining - just as it looked as though the game would get away from them.

Hayes worked his way down the right-wing, delivered early into the box with his right foot and Mills arrived with a brilliant diving header to spark jubilant celebrations from the visitors.

Dartford nearly added a second four minutes later when Hayes sent Pavey clear down the right. His cross was met by the onrushing Elliot Bradbrook, but he could only fire over the bar at full stretch.

The visitors comfortably saw out four minutes of stoppage time to record a seventh straight league win - their best form coming at just the right time.

East Thurrock: Lidakevicius, Sammons, Harris, Peddie, Scott, White, Christou (Phipps 88mins), Cornhill, Higgins, Smith, Agyemang (Knott 83mins). Subs not used: Honesty, Clark, Burns.

Dartford: Schotterl, Collier, Onyemah, Bonner, Vint, Brown, Noble (Harris 89mins), Bradbrook, Pavey, Pugh (Hayes 69mins), Mills. Subs not used: Murphy, Della-Verde, Ofori-Acheampong.

Attendance: 497.