Princes Park hosted National League South football for the first time in three seasons on Tuesday evening and Dartford came away with all three points.
The Darts were looking for the first victory back at this level after Saturday’s narrow defeat away at Hemel Hempstead and the visitors were also looking for their first points of the season after losing 2-1 at home to Maidenhead United in what could be the toughest division to get out of this season.
Both sides made one change from the opening weekend with Ryan Hayes coming in for Danny Harris for the Darts and Gavin McCallum taking Elliot Romaine’s place for the visitors.
The Darts would be looking for a fast start on their home patch and that is just what they got, taking the lead in the 5th minute. Jack Simmons skinned Craig Stone on the left wing before delivering the perfect ball into the centre for Tom Bradbrook to rise majestically and head home from 6 yards out.
The lively Simmons was having the better of Craig Stone and the ex Ebbsfleet man was to go in the book with only 13 minutes gone, sliding in late on halfway, meaning he would have to walk a tightrope for the rest of the game.
In an entertaining opening quarter, Dartford were always in the ascendancy and Simmons was to force Lewis Carey into a save after Andy Pugh had put him through into the left hand channel, with the left wingers shot being palmed behind for a corner.
Eastbourne first threatened in the 28th minute when a long throw from the right was flicked on by Simpemba at the front post and was heading towards Baptista in the centre of the goal but he was just beaten to the ball by Tom Gardiner who headed out for a corner.
As the half wore on, Eastbourne grew into the game and on 37 minutes after some sustained pressure, Baptista fired just wide of Ibrahim right hand post. A minute later and the Darts had a shout for a penalty. Lee Noble getting onto a loose ball from his own deflected shot and going down under the presence of Sam Beale but the referee waved away the claims.
The game was becoming more end to end as Ryan Worrall had a shot blocked from in front of Ibrahim for the visitors as we approached half time.
The Darts went in 1-0 at the break, just deserves for their early high pressing game, which gave the visitors very little time on the ball.
The second half started as the first ended with the game end to end with Andy Pugh shooting straight at the keeper for the Darts and Nathan Pinney, shooting just wide from the edge of the box for the visitors.
Both sides were playing good football on the slick surface and Pugh was again to force Lewis Carey into a save on 50 minutes, rasping a left foot drive from the edge after cutting in from the right and beating Khinda-John with pace.
The hosts were to go close again on 58 minutes when a Lee Noble free kick from the left evaded everyone in the box and would have skipped into the bottom corner if it wasn’t for Carey clawing it behind for a corner.
Carey was keeping his side in it, making another magnificent save two minutes later, diving low down left to deny Pugh after another Noble free kick had fallen at the striker’s feet.
Despite the home side’s dominance, the home defence still had to have their wits about them with Callum McNaughton having to make a last man tackle to deny substitute Kane Haysman from going one on one with the keeper before Gavin McCallum shot just wide on the turn in the area after another long throw from the visitors.
The Darts just couldn’t find the second goal to seal things with Ryan Hayes the next to waste a good opportunity, shooting straight at the keeper after running through from deep and they nearly rued this miss, just a minute later.
Haysman, and Pinney combining for Mccallum to shoot low towards Ibrahim near post, the goalkeeper doing well not to spill on the wet surface.
This break gave the visitors confidence to try and find an equaliser as the game reached the final 10 minutes without much end product from their pressure as the Darts side began to tire.
With 2 minutes remaining, the visitors finally got the ball in the end through ex Dart, Nathan Collier. He headed home well from eight yards but the referee penalised him for a push to give the home side a late reprieve.
The Darts managed to hang on to record their first victory of the season and get their first points on the board, of which was richly deserved for their first half efforts.
Dartford: Ibrahim, Vint, Onyemah, Gardiner, Mcnaughton, Noble, Hayes ( Sykes 77), E Bradbrook©, T Bradbrook (Cogan 77), Pugh ( Dembele 90), Simmons.
Subs not used: Turner, Hamilton
Eastbourne: Carey, Stone, Beale, Worrall, Simpemba, Khinda-John, Baptista ( Haysman 65), Collier, Lok (Romaine 55), Pinney ( Evans 77), Mccallum
Bookings: Stone 13, McCallum 58, Khinda-John 60
Subs not used:, Bosma, Wilson.
Referee: Mr Ian Cooper
Attendance: 963