As the 1,635 supporters enjoyed the hot weather, The Rams edged ahead within seconds of the kick-off after Ryan Kingsford’s pass to Mitchell May split the Dartford defence open, leaving the latter to fire beyond Jonny Henly.

The goalscorer came close to netting a second a minute later, before the visitors drew level via Dan Smith’s neat finish in the sixth minute.

The Rams hit back via Benedict Bioletti, who forced a good save out of Jonny Henly (14), before Sam Smith received a yellow card for a foul on the Ramsgate number seven later in the half. Despite a poor performance by referee Mr Simon Finnigan, it was a challenge the Dartford defender would eventually regret.

For now though, Sam Smith and his teammates were trying to contain a Rams attack that was threatening to run riot. And by the 34th minute, they edged ahead once again following a corner which the Darts failed to clear… Alfie Paxman’s initial shot deflected kindly for TJ Jadama, who fired home.

Two became three four minutes later, after Sam Okoye lost out to the lively Bioletti, who found Kingsford inside the Darts’ area, whereby he pulled the trigger on a delightful left-footed strike to beat Jonny Henly and increase his side’s advantage (38).

Dan Smith had an opportunity to pull a goal back before the break, but his effort following a free-kick flew narrowly wide of Aiden Prall’s upright (45).

Any chance of a comeback looked unlikely for Ady Pennock’s side, when Sam Smith was shown a second yellow card and dismissed for a foul on Benedict Bioletti just five minutes after the restart.

However, the Dartford boss swiftly made a substitution which would change the outcome of this fiercely contested game. Eddie Dsane was the player to enter proceedings in place of Olly Box (58).

Jeremiah Pinder left the field to be replaced by Ikechi Eze a minute later (59), before Luther Williams came on for Callum Jones deep into stoppage time (90+5) in what was just three changes in personnel this afternoon.

Returning to the action, TJ Jadama tested Jonny Henly with a good strike (60), before Eddie Dsane pulled the visitors back into comtention with his first goal of the season (64).

Referee Mr Finnigan then took centre stage, as he seemed to lose the plot. First, Samuel Okoye was sent off for a challenge that appeared to be worthy of a yellow card at best (67), before Ramsgate’s Harry Webster was dismissed in similar fashion five minutes later.

Ikechi Eze’s resulting free-kick was met by Dan Smith, but Aiden Prall was alert to make the save (73). The goalkeeper stood no chance when Eddie Dsane pulled the trigger on a wonderful long-range drive, which flew into the top corner to level the score six minutes later though.

However, Ben Smith’s Rams were soon back ahead once again when Tom Clifford’s thunderbolt flew beyond Jonny Henly in the 82nd minute.

The Darts never gave up though, despite their numerical disadvantage. And when they raced into the Ramsgate box, the foul was committed, and a penalty awarded. Eddie Dsane stepped up to fire the visitors level once again and complete his hat-trick in emphatic fashion (90+2).

So, after a frantic game of football and poor decisions, Dsane had earned the Darts a precious first point on the road after he and his teammates had come from behind twice. An effort that showed their resilience and fighting spirit, especially considering that they were a man down and two goals behind with forty minutes still to play!

The result sees Dartford climb to fifteenth in the Isthmian Premier League table, but there’s still a lot of work to be done and football to be played.

RAMSGATE: Aiden Prall, Raphe Brown, Tom Clifford, Benedict Bioletti, Mitchell May, Ryan Kingsford, Alfie Paxman, Harry Webster, Jerome Binnom-Williams, Billy Munday, TJ Jadama (c).
SUBSTITUTES: Aaron Barnes, Anthony Grant, Zack Jobe, Sha’mar Lawson, Kai Garrett.

DARTFORD: Jonny Henly (c), Samuel Okoye, Sam Smith, Ben Frempah, George Whitefield, Samuel Okoye, Denzelle Olopade, Jeremiah Pinder, Olly Box, Callum Jones, Dan Smith.
SUBSTITUTES: Eddie Dsane, Hugo Taylor, Ikechi Eze, Luther Williams, Alby O’Mara-Knapp.

Match Photos Gallery

Chris Palmer