Adam Flanagan admitted he was nervous when Dartford conceded an equaliser at Chippenham on the stroke of half-time.

Darts led 1-0 on Saturday through a smart Jamie Philpot strike but were pegged back by Nat Jarvis just before the break.

That goal changed the mood and Flanagan, serving a touchline ban, had plenty to ponder as he made his way to the away changing-room.

Report: Chippenham Town 1 Dartford 2

He said: "Being truthful with you, I was a little bit nervous because we’ve been in games where we’ve gone in front recently and we’ve let in goals either side of half-time. After that, we’ve had spells where we’ve looked very nervous.

"We got the boys in at half-time and they’re honest players; they know where the performances need to be and when they’ve been found wanting.

"We were trying to direct them at half-time to a few areas of improvement we felt we could bring to the game but being difficult to beat and that’s what we did.

"They had a little bit of pressure late on but I can’t remember Deren (Ibrahim) having to make too many saves. It was a very solid, hard-working performance away from home, which is what we needed."

Philpot scored a quality opener midway through the first half when Chippenham failed to clear a corner.

"Jamie took the goal very well," Flanagan said. "The set-piece came in, it bobbled around and he swivelled on his left foot and calmly put it in the corner. Jamie’s got those qualities.

"He came in, did quite well, got injured, came out of the team and he’s worked really hard to get back in. Over the last few weeks, he’s really starting to show what he’s about."

But Dartford's lead was cancelled out when Yan Klukowski got down the Chippenham right and centred for Jarvis to score from close-range.

Flanagan said: "It looked like their player ran off the back of Ben (Greenhalgh) and ball came in.

"Ben got back and I don’t know if the guy was shooting or crossing.

"If it was a shot, he shanked it across and it’s fallen perfectly for their lad getting in behind Jordan (Wynter) at the back post.

"If it’s a cross, it’s a great ball into the box and it was a difficult one to defend to be fair to Jordan. The guy got on his blind side and made a great run and got himself in where it hurts to get a good goal for them."

Flanagan expected Chippenham to come out flying after the interval.

He said: "If you study their results this year, they’re notorious for coming down the hill second half and turning games around.

"They’ve got the best home record in the league and if they’ve scored 12 goals at home this season, 11 have been down the hill in the second half so they are a team that favour coming down the hill and are really strong.

"We knew that at half-time, the players knew it and I think they delivered a very solid and determined performance."

Dartford scored an extraordinary winner when a free-kick from goalkeeper Ibrahim travelled 70 yards and flew all the way in.

Flanagan said: "Deren strikes the ball very well and, up the hill with the wind behind him, it was difficult for their keeper.

"It was difficult for Deren in the first half with balls coming in because it’s hard to judge it in this kind of wind.

"Deren caught it well but to be truthful, I thought it went over! Everyone started jumping around so it was a little bit surreal, not the kind of thing you see very often.

"He’s done that twice now so he’s getting a name for himself. With that goal, he’s probably our third-highest scorer this season.

"He’ll mention that all the time but I’m pleased for him.

"We just need to win games at the moment and (whoever scores) it all helps.

"It was always going to be difficult coming to Chippenham. They’re doing very well at home this season.

"Off the back of the defeat against Oxford, we needed a performance from the players and I think we got that."

Flanagan revealed that on-loan forward Amadou Ba has been recalled by his parent club Southend United.