A trip to Maidenhead in the 3rd Qualifying Round awaited the winners of this tie, but with Dartford playing their weekly football at a higher level, and Peacehaven arriving without the services of top scorer Freddie Barker (suspended), the odds were always stacked against the visitors.

took the initiative from the outset, but Peacehaven where happy to soak up the pressure, with the back four working hard to combat the early attacks.

Dartford came close to taking the lead on 19 minutes when a cross picked out Nathan Palmer in front of goal, but Jamie Witham saved from point blank range to keep the scores level. Within 5 minutes though, the home side took the lead. A low drive from the influential Ben Wilson was parried by Witham, and Jaie Nuttall followed in to score a very straight forward goal.

Peacehaven kept battling, and had a chance to level on the half hour mark. Tom Tyler's free-kick from out near the corner flag found Jimmy Thompson unmarked in the 6 yard box, but his glancing header flew the wrong side of the post.

The second half saw Peacehaven raise the pace of their game with Matt Lago and Steffan Robinson-Webster seeing far more of the ball than in the first half, but on 65 minutes the home side doubled their lead. A deep cross from the right wing picked out Lahre Balogun on the back post who hammered home unchallenged.

Still Peachaven refused to give up, and gave their all until the end, but they were up against a very well drilled defence, and it wasn't to be.

As he left the ground, Manager Shaun Saunders commented, "If everyone had been available, I think it could have been a different result, but I couldn't have asked more from the lads tonight, they battled hard and their heads never dropped."

Report by Keith Parris

Footnote:- Lovely ground, impressive surroundings - but NO food or Tea / Coffee, at all. (Not even for hospitality for Club Officials at half time !!! ).  Good luck to you in the next round, but shame on you Dartford !!