Two early goals sent Dartford crashing to their third straight home defeat in The Skrill Premier on Saturday.

Louis Moult struck twice within the first eight minutes at Princes Park and in-form Nuneaton never relinquished the lead.

Darts skipper Elliot Bradbrook halved the deficit midway through the first half but there was no fightback from the home side after the interval.

They drop to 19th, while unbeaten Nuneaton are behind leaders Cambridge United only on goal-difference after four wins on the spin.

Dartford keeper Alan Julian had already made a good save to deny Wes York before the visitors struck a double blow.

Louis Moult headed home James Armson's fourth-minute cross to make it 1-0 and then whipped a free-kick past Julian from 25 yards to stun the home crowd.

Tony Burman's side had barely got into first gear.

They did look to respond, with Bradbrook heading wide and Lee Noble forcing a save from James Belshaw, but York almost made it 3-0 with a rasping half-volley at the other end.

However, the home side were gifted a way back into the game on 28 minutes. Belshaw dropped Ryan Hayes' right-wing corner in the six-yard box and Bradbrook was on hand to hook it into the net.

Andy Brown's terrific volley kept Julian busy and Gareth Dean headed wide from an Armson corner. A dangerous Hayes cross almost swirled into the top corner late in the half but this time Belshaw's handling was sound.

The second half was only nine minutes old when Darts manager Tony Burman brought striker Jason Prior off the bench. Central midfielder Alex Woodyard made way, but even with an extra forward on the pitch, Dartford created almost nothing going forward.

Adam Birchall became increasingly frustrated at the lack of service into his feet, while the balls Prior did win in the air invariably fell to Nuneaton players.

It took the home side until 11 minutes from time to register their next serious attempt on goal. Danny Harris cut in from the left and shot straight at Belshaw.

Dartford's frustration was summed up in stoppage-time when Prior was cautioned for throwing the ball at Boro right-back Theo Streete.

Burman takes his side to Luton Town on Tuesday (7.45pm).

Dartford: Julian; Burns, Clark, Collier, Fry (Ibemere 88mins); Woodyard (Prior 54mins), Bradbrook; Hayes, Noble, Harris; Birchall (Sterling 83mins). Subs not used: Rogers, Monger.

Nuneaton: Belshaw; Streete, Dean, Cowan, Bell; York (Richens 63mins), Armson, Walker, Sleath (Taylor 90mins); Brown, Moult (Pearson 90mins). Subs not used: Adams, McNamee.

Attendance: 1,155.