A dramatic late goal ended Dartford's four-match losing streak on Saturday.

Ryan Hayes curled a superb shot in off the post in the 91st minute to earn the Darts a point against Hemel Hempstead, who played for almost half the game with 10 men.

The home side were 2-0 down at half-time but kept battling right to the end and deserved their point.

Dartford, who were missing defenders Lee Burns and Tom Gardiner through injury and suspension respectively, made three changes to their starting XI.

Mark Onyemah, having just extended his loan stay from Luton Town, came into the back four as did Ronnie Vint - well again after being hospitalised with a stomach ulcer. Hayes returned on the right wing, while Ebou Adams and Andy Pugh dropped to the bench.

Noor Husin made his Hemel debut after joining on loan from Reading and Oliver Hawkins returned to lead their attack although former Dartford defender Josh Hill had to settle for a place among the substitutes.

A lively start saw Jack Smith smash a free-kick into the Darts wall, winning a corner from which Hemel almost took the lead. Hawkins met the right-wing delivery with a powerful header which goalkeeper Deren Ibrahim did well to keep out.

Tom Bradbrook rounded Hemel keeper Jamie Butler at the other end but with the angle against him, he turned back and squared for Hayes. The winger miscued his shot, though, and the ball almost flew out of the stadium.

Moments later, a straight ball got Danny Harris running down the middle and although his shot flew over, the home crowd were encouraged.

They almost had a goal to cheer when Hayes picked the dawdling Ben Herd's pocket and strode into the penalty area before rolling a shot against the base of the far post.

But those missed chances came back to haunt Dartford on 17 minutes when Hemel took the lead. Husin's shot from the right-hand side of the box came back off the post and there was Wilfried Gnahore to gobble up the rebound.

It was almost 2-0 when Herd curled a brilliant free-kick against the angle from 30 yards.

Dartford rallied and went close twice in the space of a few minutes. Tom Bradbrook rose well to head over from Hayes' deep right-wing cross and Hayes was then denied by an excellent Butler save when he tried to thread a precise shot inside the far post.

In such an open game, with neither side defending well, more goals seemed inevitable and a second duly arrived for Hemel four minutes before the interval.

Dartford allowed Husin space inside the box and he smashed the ball past Ibrahim from around 12 yards.

Herd tried his luck with another free-kick late in the first half but Tom Bradbrook got his head to this one as the visitors carried a 2-0 lead into the break.

Dartford were still sluggish at the start of the second period. They failed to cut out a soft ball from the left and were fortunate that Hawkins missed his kick directly in front of goal when a decent connection would surely have found the net.

The visitors were reduced to 10 men moments later when Harris, in pursuit of Ibrahim's monster clearance, was hauled down by Ed Oshodi as he bore down on the penalty area. Referee Lee Venamore had the red card out of his pocket even before he'd reached the players involved.

That decision offered real hope to Dartford, who halved the deficit almost straight away. Harris sent Tom Bradbrook running down the left wing and then got himself in the box to convert Bradbrook's low cross.

Barry Cogan came on for Noble and the home side had a chance to level soon after but Vint's header from a Hayes corner drifted wide.

At the other end, Hemel wanted a penalty for a push on Hawkins but Mr Venamore was having none of it.

The visitors brought on defensive players and looked to knock the ball around to run the clock down, with the Darts unable to build much momentum. Tom Bradbrook headed wide from a Hayes cross and then shot straight at Butler although in the second instance, the flag had already gone up for offside.

Smith volleyed straight at Ibrahim but it was Dartford doing most of the pressing now and Hemel looking to strike on the counter.

Tom Bradbrook headed Callum McNaughton's high ball goalwards but Butler saved and Onyemah then lashed a shot over from 20 yards as time started to run out.

Darts boss Tony Burman sent on strikers Pugh and George Sykes for the last six minutes but it looked as though Hemel had done enough - until Hayes stepped up to the plate.

Dartford: Ibrahim, Vint, Onyemah, Wynter, McNaughton, Noble (Cogan 59mins), Hayes, E Bradbrook, T Bradbrook (Sykes 84mins), Harris, Simmons (Pugh 84mins). Subs not used: Adams, Dembele.

Hemel: Butler, Herd, Connolly, Harriott, Oshodi, Gnahore (Hill 54mins), Potton (Forbes 64mins), Smith, Hawkins, Husin (Swariff 81mins), Lowe. Subs not used: Comas.

Attendance: 844.