Dartford are prepared for a quickfire response from neighbours Ebbsfleet on New Year’s Day.

The Darts posted their first league win at Stonebridge Road in 43 years on Boxing Day and the teams meet again in an all-ticket affair at Princes Park (3pm).

Coach Christian Jolley knows two games are never the same, and is anticipating their wounded rivals will come out all guns blazing in the return fixture.

“New Year’s Day is looking exciting,” said Jolley. “There’s no better motivator than when you’re on the wrong side of the result at home.

“Ebbsfleet are going to be 20 or 30% improved on what Boxing Day was. They know exactly how we set up so we’re going to have to be cute with how we move forward with that, and if we change things or try to continue in the same methods.

“It’s a new game, a different pitch, different atmosphere, an away day for them. We’ve been strong at home this season so we’re confident.

“It was our job to take care of business on Boxing Day so we’ll enjoy that, dust ourselves down and get together a gameplan as to how we can beat a very strong and effective Ebbsfleet team at our place.”

Dartford took over at the top of National League South after beating the Fleet, a result which means they’ve won at both Ebbsfleet and fellow high-fliers Havant in 12 days.

It’s put the Darts right back in the thick of the title race but Jolley has been around long enough not to get carried away with what’s going on around them.

“We’ve got to take care of our own business,” he stated. “We know National League South is challenging and anyone can beat anyone on the day.

“It’s all about moments in these games, I don’t think anyone has enough of a foothold or presence on the pitch that they can dictate or control 95 minutes. The moment that you do create, you need to get something.

“It’s why you look at the scores every Saturday or Tuesday, and you never know what’s going to happen.

“We know what we’re good at, we know what our weaknesses are and we’re trying to improve in those areas.

“We’ve kept the majority of our players fit and we’ve got a real repertoire of skills. Long may it continue - but we’ll just take it one game at a time.”