Dartford manager Alan Dowson admitted his team needed to be more clinical after suffering their first defeat of the season.

Dowson felt the Darts were the better team against Havant on Tuesday night but lost the game in both boxes.

“I thought we played well,” said Dowson. “We’ve got to be more clinical and do better in both boxes.

“We lost Jason Prior on the first goal, we talked about him before kick-off and I said keep him outside the six-yard box but he scored from the six-yard box.

“Defensively in those areas we weren’t great. I’m disappointed with the goals we conceded, everything else was fine. The second goal we didn’t win the first or the second header and that cannot happen.

“It doesn’t matter who we play, if they’re top of the league or bottom of the league, if we concede goals like that then we’re in trouble. The first and second contacts we’ve got to do better.

“Defensively we’d been good up until now. It’s just the two boxes - be clinical in one where you’ve got to score and the other where you have to defend for your life. We didn’t do that very well but apart from that our play was actually very good.”

Neither team were impressed by referee Kirsty Dowle and her assistants.

Dartford had a late effort ruled out for offside and the hosts also felt Billy Clifford was fortunate not to pick up a second yellow card.

“The one from the free-kick wasn’t offside, that was scandalous really,” said Dowson.

“They’ve got to look at themselves, the officials. We’ve seen the goal which is onside, which was a handball.

“We’re not allowed to criticise but they need feedback so we’ll give that. I think maybe it was a game too high for the officials tonight, that’s just my opinion but there were a lot of opinions in the ground and it was certainly Havant’s opinion as well.

“There will be assessors in the stand who will tell them how great they are. It’s disappointing. Officials have got to do their job a bit better.”

Despite the frustration, and losing their 100 per cent record after winning the first two matches, Dowson saw enough in his Dartford side to be encouraged.

He added: “Around the pitch I thought we were good and had more chances than them.

“They’re a good side and well managed but I thought we were the better side.

“We need someone who is going to stick the ball in the net, apart from Pierre Fonkeu, who didn’t have his best night, somebody else has to take responsibility.

“The two centre-halves had great chances to score, and Luke Allen had one at the end, but we need someone to be ruthless and put the ball in the back of the net.

• Match report: Dartford 1-2 Havant

“There will be a bit of negativity but I’ve no complaints, we’ll get stronger and learn more. The subs can do a little bit better when they come on as well. It’s a disappointing night but I felt the performance was good.

“We’ve got some good footballers and some of our play was excellent.

“Their front three will give anyone a good run, and maybe we weren’t at our best there to be honest. Once we got in the game, I thought there was only going to be one winner. We had a lot of good chances to win the game.”