Dartford 1 Farnborough 1 match report: Max Statham scores but Alfie Pavey equalises against former club in National League South

Dartford’s wait for a first win of the National League South season continued on Saturday after late drama at Princes Park.

The Darts thought Max Statham’s goal with 15 minutes left was going to be enough but Alfie Pavey scored a penalty against his former club deep into stoppage time to rescue a point for the visitors.

Mitch Beeney was back in goal for Dartford with Jack McIntyre recalled by Accrington after just one week of his loan due to injuries. McIntyre was on the bench at the League 2 club.

There was a first start for Paul Rooney, who joined the Darts from Havant in the summer but had a three-game ban carried over from last season.

Brandon Barzey started as his suspension from Tuesday night’s red card versus Hampton doesn’t start until next weekend.

Darts lined up in their usual 4-5-1 formation and struggled to get bodies forward to support lone forward Harvey Bradbury.

An early Luke Coulson cross was missed by James Golding in the box before Barzey shot wide after a free-kick was half-cleared.

Bradbury had his shirt pulled almost off his back by Sid Nelson in the box after 20 minutes but the referee was unmoved.

It was a first half dominated not by either team but by whistle-happy referee Eugene Robinson, who struggled with his decision-making. There were bookings for Darts duo Coulson and Statham plus a bemused manager Alan Dowson. Nelson was eventually booked just before the break for his ongoing pursuit of an early shirt exchange with Bradbury.

The closest either side came to a goal came seven minutes before the break when Farnborough substitute Adam Payce saw his deflected shot bounce just the wrong side of the upright with keeper Beeney wrong-footed.

The second half failed to get much better. Miller-Rodney