Defeat at Truro on Tuesday night saw Dartford drop back out of the National League South play-off places.

They were 2-0 down at half-time and conceded a third goal late on although assistant manager Paul Sawyer felt the scoreline flattered the home side.

Darts, who made the trip without strikers Andy Pugh (ill) and Tom Bradbrook (injured), could only name three substitutes but were right in the game for long periods at Treyew Road.

Sawyer said: "We had a bad 15 minutes and we’ve got to learn to deal with that a little bit better.

"Once we’d conceded the first, we should have managed the game and got to half-time at one rather than two because that gave us a lot to do in the second half.

"We were encouraged by the way the boys came back second half and right up until the third goal, we were still in the game. There were a lot of positives to take from the game."

Sawyer thanked the group of around 25 supporters who made the 600-mile round-trip and warned that Truro will prove a real tough nut to crack in the play-offs.

City look set to finish fourth, which would mean a midweek home tie in the first leg of their semi-final - potentially against Ebbsfleet or Maidstone.

Sawyer said: "It is tough. They’re a very solid team.

"The pitch is difficult to play on but they get the ball forward, get in behind you and they play the conditions very well.

"They are a big, strong team and the journey, getting down there, does take its toll as well.

"Whoever gets Truro in the play-offs, that away leg is going to be crucial to how they get on but obviously Truro have got to then do the reverse journey anyway.

"It is a tough place to go, definitely."