Manager Alan Dowson was delighted with Dartford’s first-half display after their derby victory at Dover on Tuesday night.

First-half strikes from Samir Carruthers, Luke Coulson and Maxwell Statham put the Darts in command.

Despite an effort from Dover’s Luke Baptiste in first-half stoppage-time, Dartford claimed the points from the National League South clash which finished 3-1.

Dowson said: “I thought, first half, we were excellent. If we had gone in at 3-0, I think we’d have gone on a bit to be honest, but I was comfortable-ish.

“Hess [Whites boss Andy Hessenthaler] is, obviously, a very experienced manager and a good manager so I’m just delighted to get the win against a decent side and a decent club.

“Hopefully we kick on.”

Dowson was disappointed to concede on the stroke of half-time but Whites never really looked like finding a way through again in the second half.

• Report: Dover 1-3 Dartford

“When they score like that, it’s a big deal for them, scoring with 30 seconds to go. But I was very positive at half-time,” explained Dowson.

“We knew they’d have a little spell with the ball, but I think there’s only one save the keeper, Joe Young, has made and we maybe could have had one or two more on the counter.”

Coulson made it 2-0 to Dartford with his first goal for the club.

On the ex-Ebbsfleet and Bromley man’s goal, Dowson said: “It’s a good finish, he got in a good position and it’s a good pass by [Keiran] Murtagh.

“He’ll be all right. We just need to get the best players we have on the pitch.”

The midweek result moves Dartford up to 10th in National League South, just a point outside the play-off places.

But Dowson conceded: “I’m disappointed [with that points return] to be honest.

“If you think about it, without making any excuses, we have conceded two own goals in the 92nd minute and the 95th minute. Then a free-kick and a penalty in the last minute.

“I’m not saying that’s all down to bad luck but it would be nice to get a bit of luck every now and again! One own goal? Yeah. But not two in two weeks.

“Chippenham didn’t hurt us at all and somehow we ended up losing that game.

“But we didn’t feel sorry for ourselves and we’ll make sure we pick it up again on Saturday.”

Dartford host early Isthmian South East frontrunners Beckenham this weekend in the FA Cup Second Qualifying Round.