A goal in either half maintained Dartford's lead at the top of National League South on Saturday.

Danny Mills headed in his third goal in a week before Alfie Pavey scored his 26th goal of the season after the break.

With Havant winning at Chelmsford, it means the title could yet be decided on goal difference next weekend - when Darts finish their campaign at relegated Bognor.

Havant now need to beat East Thurrock at home on Wednesday night to move level on points with Tony Burman's Dartford side.

A quiet start saw few chances at either end although Bath clearly made a target of Darts striker Alfie Pavey, fouling him at every opportunity.

There was a sign of things to come on 20 minutes when Pavey won a crunching tackle on Bath captain Anthony Straker, Andy Pugh crossed into the box and Mills was inches away from adding the crucial touch.

Pavey hooked over Lee Noble's free-kick, then skipper Elliot Bradbrook nodded down and Pavey's penalty appeals fell on deaf ears. Ironically, the referee was Jack Packman, who gave Chelmsford a soft penalty in the same penalty area against Dartford in February.

Dartford's pressure was rewarded on 37 minutes, Alex Brown drove forward from midfield and, despite appearing to lose the ball, he was able to find Pugh, whose first-time cross was headed in at the far post by Mills.

Bath knew that anything less than three points would end their outside hopes of reaching the play-offs and they started the second half at top speed.

Darts keeper Berti Schotterl saved well from Jack Compton's low free-kick and a ball flashed across the face of the six-yard box as Dartford were put under increasing pressure.

But that tension was eased with 21 minutes left when Alex Brown's cross-shot was turned in by Pavey.

A few niggly fouls from both sides followed while Dartford could have had more goals as substitute Ryan Hayes shot over and Noble had a goal disallowed for offside with the final kick of the game.

Dartford: Schotterl, Collier, Onyemah, Bonner, Vint, Brown, Noble, Bradbrook, Pavey (Ofori-Acheampong 86mins), Pugh (Hayes 61mins), Mills (Harris 83mins). Subs not used: Murphy, Ibrahim.

Bath: Southwood, Welch-Hayes, Straker, Richards, Batten, Ball, Edwards, Smith, Semenyo, Watkins (Jarvis 78mins), Compton (Ollis 55mins). Subs not used: Rigg, Morton, Hodges.

Attendance: 1,619.