Dartford extended their unbeaten Isthmian Premier record to 14 matches as they completed the double over Chatham at their own ground on New Year’s Day.

After a goalless first half, the Kent derby sprung to life as Chats defender Reece Butler put through his own net before substitute Eddie Dsane also struck, with the game finishing 2-0.

Chatham created two early chances at the Bauvill Stadium in front of a record crowd of 3,006, surpassing an attendance of 3,000 that had watched them lose last term’s Isthmian Premier play-off final against Enfield.

Away goalkeeper Jacob Marsden made a fine second-minute save to deny striker Rowan Liburd from a captain Jack Evans corner before winger John Ufuah dragged inches wide in an otherwise uneventful first half.

Referee Simon Cutler - perhaps slightly harshly - handed young Dartford defender George Whitefield the first caution for an adjudged foul on Ufuah on the left flank.

The Darts’ first real opportunity saw Hayden Bullas blast well over in the 27th minute after a delivery was only half-cleared on a wet and miserable afternoon.

Eight minutes later, playmaker Samir Carruthers also failed to hit the target from long range when, instead, he probably should have tried to find team-mate Callum Jones.

Next to go close for the away team was Denzelle Olopade but the midfielder’s thunderous strike sailed over with 42 minutes played.

There wasn’t much tempo to the match at this stage and, indeed, the Dartford physio was one of the busiest on the pitch ahead of half-time, albeit manager Ady Pennock got away without making any enforced first-half changes.

Chatham goalkeeper Joe Wright saved smartly to thwart Jones from a tight angle, three minutes after the interval.

Soon after, the hosts’ long-serving midfielder Jordy Robins failed to hit the target from around 20 yards out.

But the Darts broke the deadlock shortly ahead of the hour mark when Butler miscued a clearance from a dangerous Whitefield right-wing cross past Wright to find the far corner.

With 20 minutes to play, Pennock made a double away switch, which saw Dsane and on-loan midfielder Louis Dunne come on.

Chatham boss Kevin Hake responded, bringing on forward Jamie Yila, while Jeremiah Pinder and Sam Okoye entered the fray for the Darts.

But Dartford doubled their lead when Dsane drilled beyond Wright to find the bottom corner for his eighth goal this season to spark more jubilant away scenes.

With six minutes to go, referee Mr Cutler dismissed penalty appeals for a foul on Chats substitute Kian Garlinge - seconds after he had replaced Miquel Scarlett.

Chatham kept searching for a goal to set up a grandstand finish but Liburd shot wide from Evans’ corner in the initially-signalled six minutes of injury time.

As the clock ticked towards the 100-minute mark, Garlinge also attempted to score from long range, only for his drive to sail over, with the full-time whistle - eventually - coming from Mr Cutler and being met by ironic cheers from most.

It was also a third clean sheet in four games for Dartford.

The result leaves the fourth-placed side firmly in this season’s play-off picture while their rivals from Medway are sixth - three points behind fifth-placed Horsham, having played a league fixture more than them.

Home boss Hake made three changes from the team which were 3-1 home winners against Bowers & Pitsea last weekend. Butler, Jordy Mongoy and Freddie Sears replaced Simon Cooper, Kareem Isiaka and Kofi Anokye-Boadi.

Yila also returned to the Chats’ substitutes bench but fellow forward Sam Sene-Richardson wasn’t involved in their squad.

Skipper Josh Hill, Carruthers, Olly Box and Jones came in for Pinder, Tyler Christian-Law, Dsane and Duane Ofori-Acheampong following their 1-0 victory at Canvey Island in the visitors’ four switches.

When the teams had met at Princes Park, Dartford run out 3-1 victors in late August.

Chats will visit Chichester on Saturday, with Dartford at home to Whitehawk, as they aim to extend their unbeaten league streak even further.

Pennock’s side last lost in the league 3-2 at Wingate & Finchley in mid-October.

Chatham Town: Wright, Scarlett (Garlinge 83mins), Aidoo, Robins (Isiaka 81mins), Butler (Nelson 90mins), Evans, Liburd, Sears, Mongoy (Yila 74mins), Fernandes, Ufuah. Sub not used: Boadi.

Dartford: Marsden, Odaudu, Carruthers (Dunne 70mins), Hill, Whitefield (Okoye 74mins), Jones, Olopade (Pinder 74mins), Box (Dsane 70mins), Williams, Olarewaju (Ofori-Acheampong 98mins), Bullas.

Referee: Simon Cutler.

Attendance: 3,006.