Charlie Sheringham came off the bench to fire Dartford to a first home win since mid-August on Saturday.

The 34-year-old scored one and made one as the Darts made it three National League South wins in four games, as they tried to put last week’s FA Cup exit behind them.

Dartford made a host of changes from the team knocked out by Beckenham with teenage winger Marvin Herschel handed his first start. Samir Carruthers was deployed on the left wing with Jordan Wynter switching to centre-midfield and Kristian Campbell in a more familiar left-back role.

Both keepers made early saves. Hampton had former Gills stopper Joe Walsh between the sticks, now at QPR having the Beavers on loan with regular custodian Alan Julian out with a back injury.

Walsh did well to tip over a Tom Bonner header that was met by his own defender following a Carruthers corner while, at the other end, Darts’ on-loan keeper Joe Young beat away a crisp right-foot volley from Jake Gray.

Both Dartford full-backs were in the book inside the first 11 minutes, Campbell for a mis-timed tackle on halfway before Max Statham’s equally needless pull back on Brandon Barzey on halfway ensured he followed his team-mate into the referee’s notepad.

Only once in the first half did Darts manage to use the pace of Herschel to good effect. Too many times, they were unable to find their speedy winger. But on 16 minutes he was fed by on-loan Stevenage midfielder Jack Smith and Walsh did well to push out Herschel’s cross-shot. The ball fell perfectly for Davide Rodari but he was denied by another excellent piece of goalkeeping.

It was a similar story 10 minutes before half-time, Smith crossing from the right for Rodari who found Walsh in inspired form again.

Carruthers put a 25-yard free-kick just over the bar after Hampton’s Tyrell Miller-Rodney was booked for bringing down the Dartford midfielder.

There was still time for card-happy referee Harry Wager to book Dartford’s Luke Allen for a foul on halfway as the half concluded with no goals but four yellow cards, despite there not being a bad challenge in the contest.

A scrappy start to the second half prompted Darts boss Alan Dowson to make a double change on the hour, with Charlie Sheringham and Kieran Murtagh being introduced.

Within two minutes, Campbell cleared off the line at the other end before Sheringham scored with virtually his first touch. Carruthers and Allen combined to set up Sheringham, who took his time before slotting in from close range.

Murtagh became the fourth Dartford player to be booked for a foul on Gray and it then needed an excellent piece of defending from Campbell to deny former Tonbridge forward Tommy Wood a clear sight of goal.

Hampton made a double change but within two minutes Dartford had doubled their lead. Sheringham turned provider to set up Herschel, whose low right-foot shot found the bottom corner on 72 minutes.

Referee Wager continued to produce cards at a quicker rate than a postman during the festive season, Carruthers and Hampton’s Barzey both going into his notepad.

Gray’s cracking strike from distance three minutes from time ensured there was no quiet ending for the Darts.

Dartford: Young, Wynter, Essam, Bonner, Statham, Allen, Carruthers, Smith (Sheringham 60mins), Campbell, Rodari (Murtagh 60mins), Herschel (Fonkeu 85mins). Subs not used: Jinadu, Wall.

Hampton: Walsh, Block, Donaldson, Miller-Rodney, Barzey, Wood, Gray, Sablier (Ilic 70mins), Shokunbi (Kurran-Browne 70mins), Davis, Vincent (Shroll 79mins). Subs not used: Whittingham, Babalola.

Referee: Harry Wager.

Attendance: 1,147.