Dartford 0 St Albans City 3 match report: Shaun Jeffers, Michael Clark and Harun Hamid score in National League South

Two goals in four second-half minutes helped condemn Dartford to defeat in National League South on Saturday.

The 3-0 loss to St Albans leaves the Darts in the bottom seven of the division rather than the top seven, and they head into a festive double-header with neighbours Welling on the back of a run of one win in six games.

Dartford made two changes from the side heavily beaten at Tonbridge seven days earlier with Archie Woods and Luke Allen replaced by the returning Luke Coulson and Tyrell Miller-Rodney.

The visitors were quick out of the blocks, George Hoddle bending his left-foot shot just wide on three minutes and then Mitchwell Weiss forcing keeper Ryan Sandford into action from long range.

Dartford responded as Coulson’s 20-yard near-post effort was saved before Max Statham set up Richard Chin, who advanced into the penalty area before being denied by keeper Josh McNamara.

St Albans had two ambitious penalty claims rejected midway through the half as Hoddle went down theatrically under George Alexander’s challenge and then Weiss tangled with Sam Oduadu.

Referee Abigail Byrne was a refreshing change from most officials this season, looking in complete control of the game throughout.

She reached for a yellow card just past the half-hour when Ryan Blackman fouled Coulson as he broke over halfway.

Dartford went close 10 minutes before the interval, Hoddle having to clear Moussa Diarra’s header off the line from a Tyrell Miller-Rodney cross.

Coulson then did well down the left and crossed for Alexander but he scuffed his shot and Statham was unable to get a clear sight on goal from the rebound.

The teams went in goalless at the break as Shaun Jeffers had a low drive blocked in a crowded penalty area and Ben Smith