Dartford extended their unbeaten run to nine matches when they came from behind to draw with Margate on Monday.

Freddie Ladapo put the visitors in front with his ninth league goal of the season but Elliot Bradbrook kept level with him in the National League South scoring charts when he levelled things up early in the second half.

The point lifted Darts one place to sixth, with Whitehawk losing at home to leaders Ebbsfleet, while Margate remain unbeaten under their new manager Nikki Bull.

Dartford came into the derby on the back of four straight wins and having kept clean sheets in the last three of those, although they had to make a change in defence. Callum McNaughton was unavailable, so Tom Wynter dropped into the back-four and winger Ryan Hayes was recalled to the starting XI.

Andy Pugh, the Darts' matchwinner at Chelmsford on Boxing Day, failed a pre-match fitness test so George Sykes was handed his first league start since August.

Margate, having won back-to-back games since sacking Terry Brown, also made two changes. Bull dropped Christian Jolley and Luke Moore from the side which started Gate's 1-0 win against Maidstone and brought in Brett Johnson and David Hunt. Johnson's inclusion at left-back allowed former Dartford winger Nathan Green to push forward, while Hunt was picked to protect the visitors' defence.

On-loan Ebbsfleet players Matt Johnson and Sean Shields both started for the Blues, with Shields and Green flanking lone striker and leading scorer Ladapo in a 4-5-1 shape.

Dartford started the game full of confidence and on the front foot.

Hayes curled a free-kick over the bar after Sykes had been fouled by Glenn Wilson and Noble then rifled a half-volley narrowly wide after making a burst through midfield.

But one long ball forward had the Darts in trouble as Wynter failed to cut it out. Ladapo bore down on the box and although Ronnie Vint blocked his path, Green got a shot away which flashed over.

Back came Dartford, Danny Harris shooting wide after Tom Gardiner had run down the right and picked him out on the edge of the box. Bradbrook then picked a fine pass to Harris down the left although Harris couldn't find a team-mate with his attempted cross.

As the first half reached its midway point, Margate started to assert themselves.

Wilson headed wide from one of many corners and it took a wonderful diving save from Deren Ibrahim to stop Wilson nodding Margate in front from another.

Ibrahim came to his side's rescue again moments later, standing tall at his near post after Ladapo had turned Bradbrook near the penalty spot. Shields then crossed for Charlie Wassmer and Ibrahim was called on to make a third save in quick succession.

But he was beaten in the 38th minute as Margate hit the front. Shields delivered yet another good cross from the right and when the ball fell to Ladapo, he made no mistake with a powerful strike into the far corner.

Noble limped off in stoppage-time and didn't appear for the start of the second half, with Barry Cogan taking his place in Dartford's midfield.

The home side were level within six minutes of the restart. A cross from the left drifted all the way across the face of goal but Hayes did well to keep it alive neat the touchline and when he returned the ball into the danger zone, Bradbrook was on hand to force it home.

Darts enjoyed a spell in the Margate half following the goal but the game became scrappy again and the next chance didn't come until midway through the second half.

Kane Wills spread play wide to substitute Lewis Taylor and his powerful strike from the right-hand corner of the box hit the angle of crossbar and post.

That let-off seemed to spark Dartford into life. Cogan saw his low effort held by Blues keeper Chris Lewington and Tom Gardiner played a one-two with Hayes down the right flank before drilling a shot wide.

A frantic finale produced little quality but plenty of excitement, with Elliot Bradbrook shooting wide and the home side then denied a penalty when Tom Bradbrook appeared to be barged over as he was about to shoot.

Dartford: Ibrahim, Gardiner, Onyemah, Vint, Wynter, Adams, Hayes, E Bradbrook, Sykes (T Bradbrook 74mins), Noble (Cogan 46mins), Harris (Francis 90mins). Subs not used: Golding, Burns.

Margate: Lewington, Wilson, B Johnson (L Taylor 62mins), Hunt (Moore 90mins), Goodman, Wassmer, Wills (Jolley 72mins), M Johnson, Ladapo, Shields, N Green. Subs not used: J Taylor, D Green.

Attendance: 1,417.