Chatham Town 1 Dartford 2 match report: Joe Tennent and George Whitefield score in Isthmian Premier derby win for Darts, Sam Sene-Richardson replies for Chats

Two quickfire goals handed Dartford an impressive Isthmian Premier derby success at Chatham on Saturday.

Defenders Joe Tennent and George Whitefield both netted and while Sam Sene-Richardson scored a lovely reply just before the hour, Chats were unable to rescue a point.

Dartford took a third-minute lead when Tennent’s header had too much power for keeper Nathan Harvey from an excellent inswinging corner by Dan Carter.

They were in dreamland five minutes later as Chats failed to clear a set-piece, and Callum Jones crossed for Whitefield to sweep home with a finish a striker would have been proud of, let alone a centre-back.

Shellshocked, it took Chatham another 10 minutes or so to clear their heads. They eventually got into their stride with former Gillingham youngster Matt Macarthur their brightest spark in attack.

His 20-yard shot was headed behind for a corner but he nearly struck gold with a free-kick on the half-hour, arrowing his 30-yard shot against the angle of crossbar and post before Tope Fadahunsi blazed the rebound over.

In the second half, Ollie Box had an early free-kick that was comfortably gathered by Chats keeper Harvey.

But it was mainly a case of whether Dartford’s resilient defence could keep out their full-time hosts.

The half-time introduction of Kofi Anokye-Boadi gave Chatham more attacking impetus and he shot narrowly wide from a left-wing centre.

Chatham got back into the game on 58 minutes as Sene-Richardson showed why he’s attracting interest from higher levels with a silky right-foot finish from 25 yards.

The expected onslaught didn’t really arrive as Chatham were frustrated by a Dartford defence where goalscorers Tennent and Whitefield were outstanding and the introduction ahead of them of