Dartford manager Alan Dowson reacts to 2-0 home win over former boss Steve King’s Havant & Waterlooville side in National League South

Dartford manager Alan Dowson admitted he and his players had to keep their emotions in check against Havant on Saturday.

The Darts were up against former boss Steve King - the man Dowson succeeded in the home dugout - and the hosts also included five former Havant players in their starting line-up.

Dowson was keen to ensure that emotions didn’t get the better of his players - and that included the manager himself on the touchline.

“I had to behave myself,” stated Dowson. “It’s all very well wanting to beat your former club and did I want to beat the former manager? Of course, I did.

“But if you show too much emotion then it becomes a fight and we’re not very good at that.

“We had to make sure that the only thing that mattered was us getting a result.

“The only way ex-players can do anything is by what they did today, proving they are better than them.

“I knew it was a big game for Paul Rooney, Tyrell Miller-Rodney and Joash Nembhard, of course it was. They all did well and I’m pleased for them.

“It was all about getting the three points with the ex-manager coming down.”

Dowson was delighted with another clean sheet for his defence and two goals for centre-half Joash Nembhard.

Two former Havant players impressed at the heart of the Darts defence with Moussa Diarra shining alongside Nembhard.

“The two centre-halves were good,” added Dowson. “Moussa had his best game for us as well, the back four has started to keep clean sheets.

“We started the game very well. It looks as though we’ve turned a corner. Max Statham was back but couldn’t get on, Luke Allen was back, Paul Rooney played over 80 minutes, Alex Wall is back in training and disappointed he wasn’t in the squad.

“It was only in the last 15 minutes where we let them