Ten-man Dartford edged a dramatic second half to overcome Maidenhead at Princes Park on Saturday and keep their Blue Square Bet title hopes alive.

Tom Bonner saw a volley from a Lee Noble corner tipped over the bar by keeper Billy Lumley on 10 minutes and the keeper did well to keep out a Jacob Erskine drive through a forest of legs after the Darts striker had been found by an Adam Green free-kick and flicked the ball up for himself.

Erskine spurned another chance when a fine team move ended with Noble playing in the striker, only for him to stumble and bobble his shot into the ground for Lumley to save.

Five minutes before the break Lee Burns burst through the defence, only to be thwarted by Lumley while under pressure, though instead of the penalty he wanted, Burns receievd a free-kick against him.

Danny Harris received a dubious booking before the break and moments after the interval he played in Erskine whose cross was deflected just out of the reach of skipper Elliot Bradbrook.

Noble saw a free-kick turned around the post before Erskine finally broke the deadlock on 56 minutes when he stroked the ball into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

The second goal arrived six minutes later when a Noble free-kick was not gathered by Lumley and Luke Wilkinson rammed the ball home from close range.

However Maidenhead hit back within a minute when Paul Semakula eased his way past several static defenders before beating Louis Wells to give the visitors hope, and Dartford's task was made harder when Harris received another harsh caution which saw him sent-off moments later.

Parity was restored within minutes when Maidenhead substitute Jermaine Hinds saw red for a nasty lunge on Adam Green.

Bradbrook headed a Noble corner wide as Darts sought a third and the skipper went close again moments later, seeing a goalbound shot from a Burns cross deflected over.

The win kept Darts eight points behind leaders Woking and they play their game in hand at Eastbourne on Tuesday.

Can Dartford still catch Woking in the Blue Square Bet South title race? Use our comments section below.

Jacob Erskine celebrates his goal against Maidenhead Picture: Steve Crispe