Dartford player-manager Ben Greenhalgh says homework by first-team coach Elliot Leveson pays off in FA Trophy second round penalty shoot-out win over AFC Totton

Dartford player-boss Ben Greenhalgh praised first-team coach Elliot Leveson after their penalty shoot-out success.

The Darts knocked higher-league AFC Totton out 5-4 on penalties following a 1-1 draw at Princes Park on Saturday.

The Stags had a chance to win the shoot-out with their fifth penalty but Ryan Sandford saved Reece Fleet’s spot-kick – and Greenhalgh revealed that Leveson’s homework paid off.

“I'll give Elliot Leveson a little bit of credit because he did a lot of digging on their penalty takers and the only one that was still on the pitch that we had information for was the first one that missed,” revealed Greenhalgh.

“That was the one that opened up and Ryan saved. So, Ryan took the information on really well and then give credit to Ryan for the penalty straight after, he made his mind up and put them off enough to make it go over, I think it came off the bar.

“It was just brilliant as a group. I feel like we deserved that with the run we were on.

“It would have been a bit harder to take if were knocked out after the performance we put in.”

Greenhalgh praised his team after they responded to AFC Totton’s second-half equaliser.

The Stags deserved to be on level terms but the Darts responded positively to ensure they were not overrun.

“I think that was the one thing that was brilliant,” said Greenhalgh. “We adapted five minutes after their goal to change shape and take it to them. In the end, it was the right decision.

“You could go for that and end up being a bit expansive, a bit open and letting in goals. But we wanted to go for it and we felt like it was there for the taking.

“We're at home. We wanted to be a team that was on the front foot and I thought it was probably, it wasn't anything clear-cut, but it