There was delight for Dartford and woe for Welling United as their Isthmian League Premier Division Kent derby was decided by an injury time goal.

It appeared that the game was destined to end in stalemate until substitute Rohan Vaughan bundled home the winner in the fifth minute of stoppage time.

Former Dart, Ade Azeez, had an early chance for Welling when rising to meet a Lewis Gard free kick but he was unable to keep his header down and it flew over the far post. Ayman El-Mogharbel then made space for himself and, although his shot was deflected sending Jonny Henly the wrong way, there was enough of the sting taken out of it and the Dartford goalkeeper was able to adjust and make the save.

At the other end, Dan Carter clipped in a free kick and Joe Tennent’s header across goal was just out of the reach of the players attacking the far post.

Azeez had another opportunity in the closing stages of the first half and Henly could only paw it out. Ex-Wing Dave Winfield was first to the rebound and his hacked clearance was dangerously close to flying into the net on the way out. Gard delivered the corner and debutant Vladimir Paternoster chose to let it bounce rather than hitting it first time, and it flew over.

Early in the second half Welling allowed Carter a run at goal but when he got to the edge of the penalty area he scuffed his shot wide. Troy Howard then thwarted Dan Smith with a brilliant last ditch tackle just as Dan Smith pulled the trigger fifteen yards out.

Jack Thomas came close for the Wings when he nicked it away from two Dartford players and bore down on goal. Although his shot was well struck it hit Henly’s strong right arm and cannoned out. It was then Mackenzie Foley’s turn to make a great save when Callum Jones was denied. Dartford kept the attack alive and it fell to Olly Box and his shot was cleared off the line by Chris Arthurs.

Although Dartford had more of the possession, Welling still had opportunities and Howard met John Ufuah’s cross with a header that went wide of the near post.

As the match moved into the latter stages, Dartford’s Sammie McLeod sliced a shot wide after it sad up nicely for him then Foley saved from Denzelle Olopade. Finally, the visitors made the breakthrough in the fifth minute of stoppage time when Jones drilled it across the face of goal and substitute Rohan Vaughan bundled home the winner.

Victory for the Darts kept them within three points of the play-off zone while Welling dropped to the penultimate spot in the league table, six points adrift of safety.

Welling United: Foley; O’Keefe, Paternoster, Gunner, Arthur; Thomas; Howard (Crichlow 75), El-Mogharbel (Oluwatimilehin 53), Gard (Reynolds 69), Ufuah (Vukoje 90+1); Azeez (Akanbi 83). Subs not used: None.

Goalscorers: None
Yellow cards: None

Dartford: Henly; Okoye, Tennant, Winfield, Odaudu; McLeod, Olopade; Jones, Carter (Vaughan 84), Box (Dsane 72); Smith. Subs not used: Williams, Olarewaju, Pinder

Goalscorer: Vaughan (90+5)
Yellow card: Okoye (78 foul)

Referee: Gerry Heron
Assistants: Jack Smith and Paul Agyei-Tabi

Attendance: 1,479

Images courtesy of Seth Maile