A second half collapse from Horsham saw title favourites Dartford score three quickfire goals to earn maximum points from this opening day fixture at a sunny Princes Park. The Hornets had started brightly, and took a deserved lead on the half hour through a well executed free-kick from Russell Eldridge, but the Darts hit back after the break and showed why they have been tipped to take the big step into the Conference South next season with a hat-trick of goals inside a ten minute spell and, although sub Pat Harding pulled one back at the end, the hosts were able to hold out to make it three league wins in a row against their West Sussex opponents.

Hornets boss John Maggs had suggested that there might be a few surprises in store for the season's big kick-off and he remained true to his word with both Jack Lyons and Pat Harding left on the substitutes' bench, the former with a reported back strain, as Claude Seanla partnered Ben Andrews up front. Lee Carney was cleared to play, despite a calf problem, while Jack Page filled in for the injured Scott Harris at right back. For the hosts, striker Jay May was ruled out with a groin strain and Lee Noble, two goal hero of the Darts' 4-0 victory in last year's corresponding fixture, was left on the bench after recovering from a broken toe.

Maggs’ chosen eleven started the game brightly and looked to have put their poor display in their last pre-season game against local rivals Horsham YMCA behind them. There was a spring in their step from the first whistle and they passed the ball around well on a superb surface. Gary Charman had the first chance of the half, getting on top of a bouncing clearance and forcing a low save from goalkeeper Andrew Young but Dartford front men Rob Haworth and Lee Burns showed how they could fire their employers to league glory with some promising link up play. Indeed, the hosts' first chance of the game came when Haworth chipped a ball over Horsham’s back four for Burns to run on to and, racing into the box, his shot looped dangerously over Rob Tolfrey’s crossbar and into the large crowd behind the goal.

Charman used his long throw to the Hornets' advantage when he found Andrews on the penalty spot but the big target man headed wide of the goal. Jack Page was looking to impress his manager after being preferred to recent signing James Nicholls and he fought well to win a quickly taken throw in that was nodded on by Andrews to Carney who raced into the box and smashed the ball across goal. But, with Seanla at full stretch, there was too much pace on the ball for him to make contact and the supporters watched in agony as the ball fizzed narrowly wide of the far post.

A poor corner from Carney was to result in the Hornets' next glimpse of goal when the resulting clearance found Alex Haddow who returned ball back to Carney to deliver a high cross into the box. When the next defensive header dropped to the unmarked Eldridge, some thirty yards from goal, he fired in a sweetly struck drive that was spectacularly tipped over by Young and the resulting corner was headed wide by Anthony Acheampong. The purple patch continued for the visitors when Andrews, who had been guilty of conceding a number of free-kicks during the early stages of the game, was himself fouled by Jamie Coyle on the edge of the box. With Charman and Carney in close attendance, it was Eldridge who strode up and curled a perfect free kick into the top right hand of the goal with Young able only to admire the shot as he remained rooted to his goal-line.

The goal was no less than Horsham deserved but Dartford applied the pressure before half-time, forcing several corners, and Tolfrey was forced to make a scrambling save after Haworth and Burns combined to try and conjure up an equaliser. It was an ominous sign from the hosts who, within twenty minutes of the second half, would have turned this match on its head to take the sting out of the Hornets' tails.

H/T Dartford 0 – 1 Horsham

The majority of travelling supporters were still returning from the bar as the second half got under way and they might have been made to regret their late arrival when Seanla almost gave Horsham the perfect start, racing on to a pass by Carney and unleashing a venomous shot that was tipped over the angle of crossbar and post by the alert Young.

However, heavy pressure from Dartford worried the Hornets and a uncharacteristic mistake from Mark Knee allowed Lee Burns to get the better of him and square the ball to Elliot Bradbrook who ignored the challenge of Charman to fire past the helpless Tolfrey. The next ten minutes proved to be disastrous for Horsham. Eldridge hit a shot that sailed comfortably wide but his sloppy pass set up a quick counter-attack that saw Bradbrook bundled over in the penalty area by Acheampong and referee Neil West had no hesitation in pointing to the spot, and promptly cautioned the errant defender. Skipper Adam Flanagan stepped up to take the penalty and calmly wrong-footed Tolfrey, passing the ball into the bottom right of the goal.

Second half substitute Adam Burchell provided Dartford’s third goal when he smashed the ball across goal and Bradbrook was free to fire home from on the penalty spot to effectively put the game beyond Horsham's reach. The home side appeared to take their foot off of the peddle in the last twenty minutes but worked hard to close down any Horsham chance that would allow them back into the game. Substitute Lyons, on for Carney, had sight of goal when he was sent racing through by fellow debutant Pat Harding but he pulled out of the challenge with the advancing Young and Charman was unable to direct the resulting clearance back over the back-pedalling keeper's head.

However, the travelling faithful were rewarded for their superb backing when their side momentarily returned to the slick movement that was so prevalent during the first half as Lyons clipped the ball over full-back Billy Burgess' head for the determined Haddow to play the perfect ball in to the near post for the predatory Harding to stab the ball over the line. A nervy four minutes of injury time were played out to a raucous chorus of "Jazz Maggs' Lardy Army" but the fans were unable to lift the side again and it was the Darts who got their season up and running with the first of what is expected to be many maximum points hauls this season.

Despite the costly individual errors from the otherwise excellent Knee, Eldridge and Acheampong, there were plenty of positives to take from Horsham's first outing of the new season. Against a side that had so comprehensively outplayed them in the league last year, and are so hotly tipped for success this, the Hornets were by far the better side for fifty minutes. Tolfrey, although beaten three times, was seldom troubled, while the energetic Eldridge impressed in midfield and Seanla had one of his best games in the amber and green shirt before going off with a blow to the head. Worryingly, though, was the continuing trend of unnecessary bookings that blighted the side last season. Knee, Carney, Jack Page and Charman were all cautioned for dissent, along with Acheampong for his part in the Darts' penalty, and Maggs knows that his side are going to have to show more restraint during the coming weeks and months if the club is to avoid potentially damaging suspensions.

The Hornets take on another of the pre-season promotion favourites, Sutton United, this Tuesday and look to be in for another stern test after the Us began the season with a four goal mauling of Margate.

NEXT MATCH: v Sutton United (h) Tuesday 18th August ko 7.45pm