Aveley 4 Dartford 3 match report: Max Fiddes (2) and Dan Smith score in Isthmian Premier defeat

Injury-hit Dartford lost out in a seven-goal thriller at Aveley on Saturday.

The Darts led in the first half but two goals conceded in a six-minute spell straight after half-time ultimately proved their downfall.

With experienced faces missing in defence, the Darts had to bring Joe Tennent back quicker than expected to the heart of their defence.

But those that remained were left horribly exposed in the second half and the Darts paid the price as they were sliced apart at will.

That said, a draw would probably have been a fair result on a day referee Tommy Breen will probably want to forget.

The man in the middle booked Dartford’s Scott Wagstaff as early as the second minute but quickly lost control of the game, and never got it back. He had to warn Wagstaff throughout the first half, spoke to both captains twice – including with just 30 seconds left – in a bid to calm his afternoon down, and failed to show a red card when Emman Oke appeared to have his hair pulled in the second half.

Dartford were nearly ahead inside 25 seconds as player-boss Ben Greenhalgh’s long-range shot was deflected narrowly wide. Then when the resulting corner was never properly cleared, Wagstaff’s effort whistled just past the post.

Aveley responded as Malachi Napa cut in and shot just over against his former club before Kymani Thomas cut inside and saw his effort clip the top of the bar.

Dartford went ahead on 32 minutes when Greenhalgh’s left-wing cross was turned in at the far post by Max Fiddes.

Tennent produced an excellent block to deny Francis Mampolo just before half-time but Aveley levelled on 43 minutes. A threat from set-plays, they finally made a right-wing corner count as Romel Royal headed in at the far post.

Dartford, who spent