By Callum Townsend

Dartford had Paul Rooney sent off as they were beaten by two second-half goals against Braintree on Tuesday night.

It was a third straight home defeat in all competitions for the Darts.

Dartford looked to start on the front foot in an attempt to build on a mostly-positive FA Trophy performance on Saturday. They pressed intensely from the off, fashioning their first chance of the game as Lewis Manor flicked the ball onto Max Statham on the right wing, but he could only manage to meet the gloves of Jack Sims with his cross.

Manager Alan Dowson’s Dartford defence soon discovered the dangers Braintree possessed when attacking down the left. Tom Blackwell and Aaron Blair proved to be a troublesome duo throughout the half and often combined well, particularly as they crafted a corner from Blackwell’s cross following Blair’s flick through the legs of Baris Altintop.

Darts had a great chance to go ahead from a Luke Coulson free-kick. His delivery found Moussa Diarra at the back post, but his attempt to head the ball back across goal was dealt with by Sims.

Braintree’s Joe Grimwood, who previously played against Dartford when Sudbury knocked them out of the FA Cup in 2021, saw an opportunity to put the Iron ahead, but his volleyed attempt was blocked for another corner.

In a game of trading blows from dead balls, Dartford almost saw themselves ahead twice in quick succession from such scenarios. Coulson’s delivery lasered towards the head of Sam Odaudu, who header over. A minute later, Joash Nembhard’s header from a corner found its way to Alex Wall, who flicked his header over the bar from close range.

As was the case for much of the game, Blair continued to provide chances for Braintree. He masterfully brought a clearance down under his spell, jinking into the box and cut in on his right foot before seeing his curled shot saved.

Approaching the interval, a moment of madness from Rooney undid the hard work Darts had done defensively, and best surmised a frantic first half. The Irish midfielder clumsily lunged in on Grimwood, and was dismissed by the referee after careful consideration, signifying Dartford’s sixth red card of the season.

Braintree looked to exploit their numerical advantage immediately. Payne’s ball out wide was eventually flicked down to Ipswich-loanee Ward, whose shot was parried into the path of Blackwell, who could not convert.

Dartford looked to start the second half brightly and on-loan Archie Woods saw his just bobble wide.

However, the game’s goalless status did not last long. Ward did well to evade Odaudu’s press and drove inside to deliver the ball into the box, finding Blair at the back post who fired home to give the Iron the lead after 49 minutes.

Braintree then found themselves on the counter-attack after 67 minutes through Gianni Crichlow. He was able to release the ball to Blair on the edge of the area, who stood up Diarra and slotted past Sandford to put his side 2-0 ahead with his 10th goal of the season.

The visitors chased a third, but Diarra denied Ward and then Crichlow’s attempt was blocked by Statham.

Moments before being substituted, Blair had a chance gifted to him to add a third to his tally on the night, as he was again afforded the opportunity to shift inside from the edge of the area, but was denied the match ball by Sandford.

Diarra and substitute Charlie Sheringham formed a makeshift frontline for the Darts and both had chances to score late on. But Sheringham was unable to make anything of an Olly Box delivery, and Diarra failed to connect with Coulson’s final delivery of the night.

Dartford remain 11th, but will retain hope that a play-off spot is still achievable, with four points separating themselves from Worthing in seventh.

Dartford: Sandford, Statham, Altintop, Nembhard, Diarra, Odaudu, Woods (Box 81mins), Rooney, Coulson, Manor (Allen 65mins), Wall (Sheringham 81mins). Subs not used: Beeney, Boulton.

Braintree: Sims, Mason, Davies, Watt, Grimwood, Tompkins, Blackwell (Crichlow 55mins), Payne, Blair (Herschel 94mins), Pinto (White 92mins), Ward. Sub not used: Blunkell.

Attendance: 771.