Boreham Wood 0-1 Dartford

The recent rains had by-passed Meadow Park and a pre-match inspection was deemed unnecessary, although a mid-morning shower meant the home groundsman was busy de-divoting the pitch pre-kick-off.

Low-slung grey clouds quite quickly gave way to sunshine as Darts played expansive football, a combination of neat on-the deck inter-passing and pinpoint pitch-wide sweeping movements reminiscent of the second half at Tonbridge.

Surprisingly, the hosts fashioned an opening minute chance which Andrew Young dealt with.

His next call of duly was 28 minutes later when he dived to his left to make a two-handed catch.

Boreham Wood pride themselves in absorbing punishment and scoring on the counter attack.

But there was little evidence that they were capable of such a ploy on this occasion as Dartford closed them off effectively throughout the afternoon.

Even in the second half when Wood had more of a share of the game, they did not threaten Darts’ solid rearguard.

The only goal came on 18 minutes when the dominant Adam Flanagan delivered a telling pass to Elliot Bradbrook, who cut into the penalty area and despatched a well-hit strike just inside home keeper Tony Tucker’s right post.

Lee Burns went close with a header and soon afterwards a cross-shot went bobbling past the far post.

Darts continued in the same mood after the break and the effervescent Danny Harris hit Tucker’s left post from outside the box.

Prompted by Daniel Brathwaite down the left in particular, the home side tried to prise open Darts’ defence but, despite the odd corner or two, got no change out of them.

The final stages were a bit nerve-wracking for the travelling faithful, especially when the four minutes added on ended up being nearer five.

Dartford: Young, Burgess, Gross, Flanagan (Coyle 75), Beales, Johnson, Harris, White, Rook (Haworth 71), Burns, Bradbrook (Dafter 77). Subs not used: Hayes, Noble.