Dartford are up and running in Vanarama National League South after edging past Eastbourne Borough on Tuesday night.

There was only one goal between the sides in the end but Dartford were well worth the points.

Darts got off to a dream start inside six minutes. Jack Simmons whipped in a delightful left-wing cross that Tom Bradbrook headed in from close range.

It was out wide where Darts' main threat came from. Simmons had an impressive home debut and former Dover defender Craig Stone was cautioned for clattering into him in the 13th minute on halfway.

Tom Gardiner shot wide before Andy Pugh fed Simmons in behind Stone and his near-post shot was well turned behind by Borough keeper Lewis Carey.

Eastbourne had their first attempt at goal eight minutes before the break but Miguel Baptista shot wide of the upright.

Darts continued to threaten through Simmons and Ryan Hayes but their delivery into the box lacked enough quality to threaten the Eastbourne defence.

Pugh had two good chances early in the second half, one in particular produced an excellent save at full stretch out of Carey.

At the other end, Eastbourne were aided by an injury to the ineffective Darren Lok as Elliott Romaine posed more questions. It needed an excellent double tackle by Callum McNaughton to prevent the visitors having a clear run at goal.

Eastbourne's Gavin McCallum then shot wide on the turn as Darts failed to clear a long throw-in by Stone. The same player was denied at the near post by a smart save from Darts keeper Deren Ibrahim.

Former Gills defender Jack Evans came on as a withdrawn striker for the visitors who chased for a late equaliser. They thought they had equalised in the 89th minute when ex-Dart Nathan Collier nodded in a corner but Ibrahim was clearly impeded by Khinda-John.

Dartford: Ibrahim, Vint, Onyemah, Gardiner, McNaughton, Noble, Hayes (Cogan 78mins), E Bradbrook, T Bradbrook (Sykes 78mins), Pugh (Dembele 90mins), Simmons. Subs not used: Turner, Hamilton.

Eastbourne: Carey, Stone, Beale, Worrall, Simpemba, Khinda-John, Baptista (Haysman 65mins), Collier, Lok (Romaine 55mins), Pinney (Evans 78mins), McCallum. Subs not used: Bosma, Wilson.

Attendance: 963.