Dartford suffered play-off penalty heartache for the second successive season – and the third time in four years – to lose Sunday’s National League South Play-off Semi-final against St Albans at Princes Park.
Samir Carruthers saw St Albans keeper Dylan Berry make a fine save low down to his right from Dartford’s first spot-kick. It proved a telling miss. Shaun Jeffers had already put St Albans ahead, and Glenn McConnell, Zane Banton, Chay Cooper and Joe Neal all netted.
Dartford’s Luke Coulson, Charlie Sheringham and Keiran Murtagh all converted their penalties but St Albans made it five out of five to book their place in next weekend’s final.
It was a fourth play-off defeat in six years for Dartford whose quest for a return to the National League goes on for at least another 12 months.