Dartford 1 Worthing 2 match report: Luke Coulson scores penalty but Darts edge closer to National League South relegation

Dartford’s National League South survival hopes were left hanging by a thread after they let another lead slip on Tuesday night.

The Darts only had themselves to blame as play-off chasing Worthing took maximum points to leave them needing to win their final two games to have any chance of staying up.

Not surprisingly, Dartford boss Ady Pennock named an unchanged side from the team that won at Havant last Saturday.

Worthing immediately settled into their passing game although they were given an early warning after just three minutes when the alert Olly Box nipped in to win possession, he advanced to the edge of the area but his right-foot shot lacked sufficient power.

Danny Cashman was prominent for the visitors, exchanging passes with Ollie Pearce before seeing his low shot saved by the legs of Dartford keeper Rhys Byrne. Then he sent a 25-yard free-kick high and wide of the target.

Dartford’s tactics were plain to see, sitting back behind the ball, they didn’t want to leave space for Worthing to exploit with their passes. Dartford were disciplined and just lacked a touch of quality when they did win the ball back high up the pitch.

The breakthrough arrived on 27 minutes and it was no surprise that Box, the youngster playing with no shortage of heart and talent, was at the centre of it. Chasing what appeared a lost cause, he forced a mistake from the Worthing defence and was then upended in the box by Dylan Fage.

Referee Shelby Elson pointed to the spot, and skipper Luke Coulson stepped up to send keeper Oliver Wright the wrong way with his penalty.

Within a minute, Luke Allen won the ball back inside Worthing territory and Jack Smith played in Box but he opted for power over accuracy, his right-foot shot going well wide