Desperate Dartford were beaten at home by nine-man FC Halifax Town on Tuesday night.

Harry Crawford's early goal was cancelled out by Matty Pearson's close-range strike before the Shaymen had Lois Maynard sent-off for an elbow on Lee Noble.

But substitute Scott Boden put the visitors in front after the break and although Halifax lost James Bolton to another red card, the home side couldn't break them down and crashed to an eighth defeat in nine league games.

This was the Yorkshire club's first away win in the league since September.

Dartford remain seven points from safety in the Vanarama Conference and their survival hopes are looking increasingly remote based on this performance.

There were two changes to the Darts side which started Saturday's FA Trophy win at Burgess Hill. In came Danny Harris and Dagenham loanee Nathan Green, with Tom Bradbrook and Peter Sweeney dropping to the bench.

Deren Ibrahim continued in goal in place of Jason Brown, who missed the game for personal reasons, while injury ruled out skipper Elliot Bradbrook.

FC Halifax, who beat Alfreton 5-3 in the Trophy at the weekend, made just one change. Pearson, a midfielder, came in for striker Boden, who was named among the substitutes.

The game kicked off amid a very subdued atmosphere - but the home crowd were cheering nine minutes in.

Lee Noble's corner from the left was glanced on at the near post and Crawford touched the ball in from a yard or so out for his second goal in as many games.

Halifax tried to respond immediately but Paul Marshall's strike from distance was straight at Ibrahim.

Marc Roberts then hurled over a long throw from the right-hand side and the ball was only cleared as far as Danny Schofield on the edge of the box. Ibrahim got down well to keep his low shot out of the bottom corner.

The home side got in behind the Shaymen defence on a couple of occasions and goalkeeper Matty Glennon had to rush out of his box to clear one through-ball. Ryan Hayes picked up possession 25 yards out and, as Glennon recovered his position, the winger smashed a shot just past the angle.

But Dartford's lead was wiped out in the 32nd minute.

Richard Peniket got free in the box and although his low shot across goal was pushed out by the diving Ibrahim, Pearson had the simple task of knocking the rebound into an empty net.

That took the wind out of Dartford's sails, although the game was about to change again.

Maynard tangled with Noble and the Halifax player, who ended up on the floor, was shown a straight red card for an apparent elbow.

Halifax were incensed and their mood didn't improve when Rory McAuley caught Peniket with a stray arm. Referee Rob Whitton saw nothing wrong and tempers among those in red shirts began to seriously fray.

The interval probably came at a good time as things got more and more heated.

Halifax carved out the first chance of the second half. Adam Smith sent Bolton away down the right and when his cross was met on the volley by Peniket, it needed a good Dartford block to deflect the ball away from goal.

The visitors didn't look like they had a man less and they went close again when Paul Marshall, bending a left-footed shot towards the far corner, brought a save from Ibrahim.

At the other end, Crawford dragged a shot well wide when the ball ran his way in the box and Max Cornhill then slammed an effort high over the bar.

But the Shaymen kept pressing and they won a penalty on 68 minutes. Schofield's shot was handled by Noble, Mr Whitton pointed to the spot and substitute Boden sent Ibrahim the wrong way from 12 yards.

That looked to have put the visitors in control but another Halifax dismissal followed just moments later.

Bolton caught Cornhill high and late in the centre of the field and although the referee didn't blow his whistle straight away, he did pull out the red card after a moment's consideration.

The home fans were waiting for a grandstand finish from their team but it never materialised.

Halifax countered at pace and almost made it 3-1. In the end, Peniket and Schofield got in each other's way when one of them should have converted the chance.

The Darts barely mustered a chance in the closing stages. Noble had a shot saved by Glennon and substitute Tom Bradbrook headed wide but Town were good value for their victory.

Dartford: Ibrahim, Burns, Mitchel-King, McAuley, Driver (T Bradbrook 82mins), Hayes, Noble, Cornhill (Sweeney 74mins), Green, Harris, Crawford. Subs not used: Daley, Kessell, Collier.

FC Halifax: Glennon, Bolton, McManus, M Roberts, Pearson, Smith (K Roberts 64mins), Marshall (Boden 64mins), Peniket, Williams, Maynard, Schofield. Subs not used: Senior, Dyer, Hillhouse.

Attendance: 811.