George Porter scored twice as Dartford kept their outside title hopes alive in National League South on Saturday.

Darts closed the gap on leaders Dorking to seven points with a game in hand with an impressive display at a sodden Princes Park.

Dorking had an early penalty shout turned down when Niall McManus went down under debutant full-back Jayden Sweeney’s challenge. But referee Andrew Humphries - who proved a calm head in a heated battle - saw nothing wrong from the on-loan Leyton Orient man.

Both sides had early free-kicks, Jack Jebb hitting the defensive wall for Dartford while Dorking’s Darren Oldaker sent his effort just over the bar at the other end.

Dartford's fast start was rewarded when they went ahead on 15 minutes. Jebb’s delightful ball over the top spotted the run of Porter and when Oldaker failed to cut it out, Porter took his time before firing low beyond keeper Dan Lincoln.

Luke Allen and Jebb were winning the midfield battle and the former provided an excellent assist to make it 2-0 on 25 minutes. This time it was the run of main striker Marcus Dinanga, and he chested the ball down before turning and sending a delightful left-foot shot into the far corner - one of the sweetest finishes you’ll see all season.

Dartford have often lacked a flow to their game at home but they were sensational in the first half against a Dorking side who had won 13 of their last 14 league games.

It should have been three when Jebb set up Kalvin Kalala but he had too much time to think about his finish and finally put the ball over the top.

Darts lost the excellent Allen to injury just before the break but one decent save from Dan Wilks aside, they had kept Dorking mainly to long-range efforts.

Dorking got back into the contest 10 minutes after the break. Connor Essam missed a chance to make it 3-0 and Dorking instantly broke, Sweeney appearing to be fouled as he cut the ball out before a deflected shot fell perfectly for McManus to convert at the far post. Dartford protested, referee Humphries was having none of it.

Dartford gave the ball away just after the hour but Rutherford could only shoot at Wilks as he entered the box.

Referee Humphries somehow failed to book Dan Gallagher for a rash foul on the edge of his own penalty area. Jebb nearly exacted perfect payback but instead his deflected free-kick came back off the crossbar.

Alfa had a penalty appeal of his own turned away with 18 minutes left when he out-paced Gallagher, while Porter was denied by a terrific Lincoln save after letting fly from 20 yards.

Porter was everywhere for Dartford, he ran forward and held off Taylor before forcing Lincoln into another fine save as he enjoyed his best game for the home side.

The points were apparently wrapped up with 11 minutes left. Kalala did brilliantly to keep the ball alive, skipped past a couple of players and played in Porter, who this time made no mistake with just Lincoln to beat.

But within three minutes, Darts opened the door for Dorking to set up a grandstand finale. The hosts switched off as Dorking won their 11th corner of the game, Wheeler firing home low from 20 yards.

Darts switched to a back three instantly in a bid to see the game out, a mission they achieved as they saw out five minutes of stoppage time without much alarm.

Dartford: Wilks, Wynter, Essam, Bonner, Sweeney, Allen (Murtagh 44mins), Jebb, Porter, Kalala, Alfa (K Roberts 84mins), Dinanga (Azeez 87mins). Subs not used: Robinson, Leonard.

Dorking: Lincoln, McManus, Fogden (Muitt 58mins), Rutherford, Cheadle (Fuller 46mins), Taylor, Rodari (Moore 67mins), Gallagher, Wheeler, Philpot, Oldaker. Subs not used: El-Abd, Harris.

Referee: Andrew Humphries.

Attendance: 1,522.