Luckless Dartford striker Andy Pugh is facing another spell on the sidelines.

Pugh went down just 25 minutes into his first start of the season at Chelmsford on Saturday and had to be substituted.

The 27-year-old former Welling player has struggled with injuries for several years and now what he hoped would be a fresh chapter has taken a downward turn.

"Pughy’s done a groin," said Dartford manager Tony Burman.

"I feel for the lad because it doesn’t matter what he seems to try to do to help himself. Something’s happening with his body and unfortunately he’s got another groin strain."

Pugh wasn't the only Dartford player to pull up at Chelmsford.

Lee Noble lasted 73 minutes before he came off, having looked uncomfortable ever since half-time.

Burman said: "With Lee, we’ve been trying to manage a little problem he’s got in the stomach area and his groin. He’s not doing any more damage to it and to be fair, he was tired anyway.

"There’s a procedure we’ve got to go through before we get to diagnose exactly what the problem is. We’re trying to treat it by letting him play and letting him rest.

"He makes a difference to us in there but the trouble is, he’s played today and he probably won’t be able to play on Tuesday."

That game is against Gosport at Princes Park when the Darts will look to record their first win of the season in National League South at the fourth attempt.

Luke Wandio headed them in front at Chelmsford but the lead lasted just 11 minutes before Shaun Jeffers fired the Clarets level.

Burman said: "Before the game, if someone had offered us a point with the situation we’re in at the moment, I’d have been happy.

"But we had an opportunity to nick all three points with some of the chances we had.

"They’re a good side full of experience and there’s a lot of strength in that side.

"I think we deserved to go 1-0 up, we hit the post, had a great save from their keeper and then Del’s pulled off a couple of really good saves as well. I’m happy with a point."