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Dartford threw the National League South title race wide open with a stunning Boxing Day derby win at Ebbsfleet.
It was Dartford’s first league win at Stonebridge Road since 1979 and the first time they’ve hit four goals at their rivals for more than 50 years.
Alan Dowson’s Dartford now sit top of the table, three points clear of second-placed Fleet, who have three games in hand. The sides meet again at Princes Park on New Year’s Day.
But the Fleet’s wobble has now turned into a major concern, it was their third home reverse in the league in the last four games while they’ve lost six in eight in all competitions. Gone is their early-season swagger, replaced by anxious faces on and off the pitch.
Dartford raced into a three-goal lead inside the first 11 minutes.
They were ahead on 44 seconds. Darts striker Alex Wall tussled with returning Fleet skipper Chris Solly and while the former certainly had a piece of the latter’s shirt, both referee and her assistant let the game flow and Samir Carruthers was allowed to centre for the unmarked Luke Allen to slot Dartford ahead.
It was 2-0 on five minutes when Haydn Hollis’ terrible passback sold Solly short and while he won his tackle against Wall, the ball fell straight to Luke Coulson, who doubled the lead from just inside the box.
Fleet keeper Mark Cousins wasn’t exempt from the drama, either. He opted to punch instead of catch a left-wing cross and Coulson’s cross-shot ricocheted into the path of Maxwell Statham to turn in the third goal.
Ebbsfleet had barely got out of their half. Darts, who won 3-1 at Havant last time out, had got a fast start but one that was beyond their wildest dreams against a Fleet side that were being outrun all over the pitch.
Cousins had to save from Coulson again before the Fleet finally had an attack but Connor Essam did well to block a shot from Fleet’s Dominic Poleon.
Franklin Domi clipped the top of the bar for the Fleet on 25 minutes and Craig Tanner sent a free-kick, given for a foul which saw Essam booked, over from 20 yards. Rakish Bingham’s low shot was parried by returning Dartford keeper Dan Wilks but it was the visitors who were still in complete control.
The Darts added a fourth five minutes before the break when Statham’s deep cross was headed in by Wall, raising question marks over the defending again for the home side as Solly allowed a free header from close range.
Ebbsfleet got one back within a minute when Tanner scored from the edge of the penalty area after Bingham’s initial effort was blocked.
It should have been Ebbsfleet that started the second half on top, pushing for a goal to get back into the game. Instead, Dartford carried on their way and looked the more likely, Cousins denying Statham at his near post and Wall just failing to get on the end of a Coulson cross.
The visitors lost Sam Odaudu to injury but it didn’t seem to disrupt their flow and former Fleet man Tom Bonner nearly added the ultimate insult as his stunning chest and volley just past the hour mark went narrowly wide of the target.
Ebbsfleet looked a broken side, too many aimless balls forward, a short corner routine that ended up at the halfway line and needless fouls given away cheaply followed by moaning at the officials instead of trying to address their own shortcomings.
Cousins twice had to save from Wall as Darts soaked up any pressure that Fleet could muster and hit them on the break.
The Fleet belatedly made changes but they hardly tested Wilks, who was forced into low saves late on to deny Sterling-James and then Edser, as they suffered a third straight league defeat.
Ebbsfleet: Cousins, O’Neill, Solly, Hollis, Sterling-James, N’Guessan (Edser 61mins), Tanner, Domi (Coulthirst 68mins), Cundle (Chapman 77mins), Bingham, Poleon. Subs not used: Martin, Jombati.
Dartford: Wilks, Statham, Essam, Bonner, Odaudu (Smith 55mins), Allen, Wynter, Carruthers (Murtagh 77mins), Napa (Fonkeu 82mins), Wall, Coulson. Subs not used: Rodari, Sheringham.
Referee: Kirsty Dowle.
Attendance: 2,905.
