Dartford assistant manager Paul Sawyer was "very pleased" with his side after they came from behind to share the spoils in the 1-1 derby at Stonebridge Road on Monday.

In the dugout for the absent Tony Burman, who was in hospital undergoing tests, Sawyer saw his side equalise through Ryan Hayes after a surging run on the right, cancelling out Matt Godden's earlier low strike.

The Darts continued to press in the second half and could have won the game, but it was a well-received point for Dartford after an injury-blighted few weeks.

Sawyer said: "I am very pleased. I thought we were unlucky to come in at 1-0 down as it was probably the only time that Ebbsfleet got in behind us in the first half.

"We just said to the lads to carry on doing the same as what we were doing but try and be a little braver and to try and pass the ball a little more and I thought we did.

"I think from the first couple of minutes in the second half we passed it a lot better than we did in the first half and I thought we thoroughly deserved the draw."

Dartford's assistant manager had confidence that if they stuck to their pre-match game plan, then they would get a result.

He said: "I think we always knew that if we kept it tight that as the game went on we could break on Ebbsfleet. These games tend to be tight for 60 minutes and then open up.

"The plan was to get Danny Harris and Ryan Hayes on the ball as the game went on, get the ball wide and try and cause them problems.

“I thought Tom Bradbrook battled well with their centre-halves. In the second half, although we defended well we always looked like we could create something.

"That was our game plan to come here today and be nice and compact but when we could break, break with numbers and see if we could hurt them on the break."

Sawyer was also pleased with the display of goalscorer Ryan Hayes: “He was one on one. They were trying to show him down the line onto his right foot so he took the shot early. He stuck it away really well.

"That is what Ryan does. He can be quiet for long periods in games but he is always going to threaten the opposition.

"If he is not creating a goal, more often than not he is on the end of one."

He also remained positive that Dartford could reach the playoffs despite a difficult March.

"Tony has always said to the lads let's get to the end of the month and see where we are. Hopefully we can have a right go at it in the last month,” he added.

"This month has not gone as well as we would have wanted it to but thankfully we have finished on a positive.

“We now get Elliot Bradbrook back and Andy Pugh. Lee Burns is on his way back and hopefully Paul Lorraine can become match fit and all of a sudden, we have got some options.

"There is a lot of positives and we will just give it a go for the last month. We've got nothing to lose."

Dartford's hunt for a play-off place continues as they host Maidenhead United on Saturday.