Darren McQueen scored twice as Dartford took the Boxing Day derby honours in National League South.

The win moves Steve King’s side onto the fringes of the promotion race while Welling - with manager Mark Goldberg on holiday in Tenerife - are looking anxiously over their shoulders as they sit just three points above the relegation zone.

Welling went close early on when Moses Emmanuel’s shot from the edge of the box went over the bar.

The home side had two penalty appeals turned down before referee Steven Hughes pointed to the spot at the other end moments later.

First Anthony Cook went down under Ronnie Vint’s challenge and then Moses Emmanuel’s shot appeared to be blocked by Tom Bonner, who was back in the Dartford starting line-up.

But there was no doubt three minutes later when Connor Dymond’s fouled Darren McQueen from behind as he shaped to shoot in the box.

Elliott Romain came off penalty duties after missing twice in the space of four games and McQueen took over, slotting home to the right of keeper Dan Wilks.

Despite going behind, Welling continued to dominate playing up the slope. Cook saw his 20-yard shot saved and then keeper Alhaji Sesay turned away Mark Goldberg’s close-range effort.

Sesay was then booked for time-wasting when he took an age to place the ball down for a free-kick.

Ronnie Vint nearly pressed the self-destruct button at the heart of the Darts defence on 32 minutes. Caught in possession, he hauled down Goldberg who was through on goal. Vint only saw yellow thanks to Bonner being close by, but Vint could have easily picked up a second yellow card as he kicked the ball away in frustration after the free-kick was given.

Cook sent the free-kick wide and just before half-time Goldberg hesitated after being played in by Joe Anderson, allowing Bonner to get back and block his shot behind for a corner.

The lead was doubled four minutes into the second half when a poor clearance from Wilks was picked up by Tyrique Hyde. The on-loan Colchester man fed McQueen, who nipped in and slotted home his second of the afternoon.

Welling lost Ejiro Okosieme to injury shortly afterwards, and McQueen then fluffed two glorious chances to complete his hat-trick.

It mattered little though as a defensive mix-up between Rob Swaine and Wilks let in Romain to tuck away a third on 64 minutes.

From that point on it was a stroll in the park for Dartford as Welling showed no derby fight, a yellow card for Theo Widdrington underling how they’d lost their discpline.

There was a welcome return to action for Darts striker Charlie Sheringham, who has been sidelined since early October through injury.

Welling: Wilks, Dymond, Anderson, Agyemang, Swaine, Okosieme (Baghuelou 55mins), Emmanuel (Cosgrave 59mins), Widdrington, Henry, Goldberg (Waldren 65mins), Cook. Subs not used: Akinyemi, Green.

Dartford: Sesay, Ming, Gordon, Wynter, Vint, Bonner, Hyde, Crook, Romain (Sheringham 78mins), McQueen (Hayes 87mins), Marsh-Brown (Wanadio 65mins). Subs not used: Hill, Liburd.

Attendance: 1,459.