Dartford's three-match winning run came to an abrupt halt when they lost their Kent Senior Cup quarter-final match against landlords and Ryman Premier title contenders Gravesend & Northfleet at Stonebridge Road last Wednesday night.

The Fleet, despite their heavy league programme, send out an almost full-strength first team and their quality shone through against their Dr Martens Easter League rivals.

Fleet took just five minutes to assert the difference in class when they broke away after Dartford had won a corner at the other end.

Darren Smith's long pass from defence found Simon Parker in space and he outpaced the Dartford defence before lobbing the ball over goalkeeper Tony Kessell to put the "away" side ahead.

Fleet extended their lead after 30 minutes when Smith's close-range effort hit the post before rolling back into the net.

After the interval, the Fleet laid siege to the Dartford goal but it was not until 10 minutes from time that Parker added their third goal, when he headed home following a cross from the right flank.

Five minutes from time Fleet should have scored a fourth when Luke Morrish was adjudged to have tripped Steve McKimm in the penalty box. However, Eliot Martin's poorly-hit penalty was saved by Kessell.