CITY took another huge step towards securing their place in the National League South play-offs with a decisive victory over one of their closest rivals.
First half goals by Ollie Knowles (though Matt Wright claims he got the final touch) and Dan Green and a simple late effort from substitute Matty Jay secured City their tenth home win of the season.
And more importantly they now need just ten points to be sure of a play-off place and finishing fourth from their remaining seven matches.
City though did not have it all their own way against the Kent visitors who started strongly against a rather hesitant home side.
But it was City who took the lead after 28 minutes when Knowles swung in a free kick from wide on the left and it seemed to evade everyone as it found the far corner, though Matt Wright was adament he had got the decisive touch.
If that goal owed a touch to good fortune, City's second nine minutes later was a cracker.
Connor Riley-Lowe found Isaac Vassell down the left and he pulled the ball back for Dan Green to drill a low shot home through a crowded goalmouth from the edge of the area.
After the break Dartford came out full of purpose, but the City defence was resolute with keeper Martin Rice having little to do until the closing minutes.
Green was only denied a second by a superb save from Deren Ibrahim as City looked to put the game to bed.
Tempers sadly became frayed with Dartford having three players booked, while substitute Adelsbury also found himself into the referee's book.
City needed a third goal to be absolutely safe and it came eight minutes from time when Jay, who made a lively impression after replacing Vassell, could hardly miss after Wright headed a Green cross from the right into his path virtually on the goalmouth and he had time to turn and shoot home from point blank range.
It was game over as City completed yet another impressive victory in their hunt for a second successive promotion.
CITY: Rice; Dawson, Pugh (capt), Richards, Riley-Lowe (Adelsbury h-t); Knowles, Green, Cooke, Brett (White 86), Wright, Vassell (Jay 73). Subs (not used (Ash, Afful).
Yellow cards: Adelsbury.
Goals: Knowles (28) 1-0, Green (37) 2-0, Jay (82) 3-0.
DARTFORD: Ibrahim; Gardiner, Wynter, Vint, Wood, Ferguson (Francis 76), Hayes, Bradbrook (capt), Sykes, Cogan, Harris (Dembele 51). Sub (not used): Noble.
Yellow cards: Vint, Bradbrook, Wood.
Referee: Colin Lymer (Hampshire).
Crowd: 502.
By Rhod_Mitchell | April 05, 2016 | West Briton
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