Dartford lost at home for the first time this season as bottom side Slough took all three points in National League South on Tuesday night.

It’s back-to-back defeats for Alan Dowson’s side after they lost at Taunton last weekend while Slough provided the perfect response to a home thrashing by Tonbridge.

Dartford captain Luke Coulson called Slough keeper Rohan Luthra into early action with a low 20-yard shot.

Slough’s Dominic Hutchinson’s mazy run ended with a shot that failed to match the build-up but the team that started the day bottom of the table were ahead on 11 minutes.

A lovely threaded ball by Hutchinson found the clever run of George Alexander and the striker rounded keeper Mitchell Beeney before slotting into an empty net.

Dartford nearly replied within 60 seconds as Paul Rooney’s goalbound shot was blocked from an excellent Max Statham right-wing cross.

Statham was then involved at the other end, blocking Johnny Goddard’s shot but injuring himself in the process.

That saw Dartford introduce West Ham loanee Archie Woods, the one bright spark in a team that looked decidedly flat despite playing the duo of Lewis Manor and Harvey Bradbury up front.

Alexander’s touch and instant volley from a right-wing cross nearly doubled Slough’s lead and the same player had a shot deflected wide from 30 yards in stoppage time.

For their part, Dartford created very little against the division’s leakiest defence. Their powderpuff approach was enough to see boos from the home fans when the referee blew for half-time.

Dartford were much improved after the break, enjoying all the possession and forcing the five-man Slough defence deeper and deeper.

It took just eight minutes for them to level the scores, Baris Altintop firing home via the upright after Bradbury’s header down.

Manor then held off his man on the edge of the area but Luthra did well to hold onto his low shot.

Slough weathered the storm, Matt Lench firing narrowly over from a wide angle at the other end. And they regained the lead with 15 minutes left, Lench’s corner falling perfectly for Tyrese Dyce to slam past Beeney.

Altintop headed a deep Coulson cross back into the danger area as Dartford pushed for an equaliser and deep in stoppage time Miller-Rodney was denied by the keeper but a second equaliser never looked likely.

Dartford: Beeney, Statham (Woods 21mins), Golding, Nembhard, Altintop, Miller-Rodney, Wynter, Rooney (Diarra 69mins), Coulson, Bradbury, Manor (Sheringham 66mins). Subs not used: Box, Wray.

Slough: Luthra, Jakman, Bayliss, Prosper, Lench, Goddard (Parillon 90+3mins), Hutchinson (Minhas 78mins), Davies, Eweka, Dyce, Alexander (McElroy 90+9mins). Subs not used: Sundire, Ogbonna.

Referee: Matthew Norton.

Attendance: 872.