Dartford stayed in the hunt for a National South play-off place with victory in the Kent derby at Maidstone on Saturday.

Tony Burman, back in the Darts dugout after illness, saw Nathan Ferguson score a second-half winner after Keaton Wood’s own goal had cancelled out an Elliot Bradbrook penalty.

Darts finished the game with outfield player Lee Burns in goal after Deren Ibrahim suffered a late arm injury but United couldn't beat him.

A United side showing four changes are already safe in the play-offs but it’s back-to-back defeats for Jay Saunders’ men.

There was more riding on the game for Dartford and it showed as Burman saw his side start well.

Andy Pugh tested Lee Worgan from a Ryan Hayes pass before the visitors took the lead from a penalty in the 10th minute.

Manny Parry was penalised for a high boot on Danny Harris and while it looked more clumsy than anything, Bradbrook calmly sent Worgan the wrong way from the spot.

Maidstone went into the game with a different front three and it was one of the changes, Charles Banya, who looked the hosts’ biggest threat down the left.

He had the beating of Darts right-back Tom Gardiner while Matt Bodkin, on his return from a month at Leatherhead, got in a couple of decent crossing positions on the other flank but the final ball was lacking.

Worgan held Danny Harris 20-yard drive but it was soon game over for the Dartford wideman, with what looked like a hamstring problem ending his afternoon midway through the first half.

Darts used the ball better in attack and might have added a second just before the break, Barry Cogan and Tom Wynter combining smartly to set up Pugh, whose connection let him down when nicely placed.

Referee Elliott Kaye’s tumble early in the second half cheered home fans but they soon had a goal to celebrate as United levelled on 55 minutes.

Bobby-Joe Taylor, forward from left-back, swung in a superb cross that was sliced horribly into his own net by Darts centre-half Keaton Wood.

Parry and Dartford keeper Ibrahim were booked after a spot of handbags as substitute Alex Flisher lined up a long throw and it started to get pretty lively.

The visitors were back in front on 71 minutes, a cracking 20-yard strike from Ferguson into the top corner, although it was harsh on Taylor who’d pulled off an excellent block from Hayes before the ball broke.

Ibrahim got down well to keep out Dumebi Dumaka’s effort from the edge of the area as Maidstone looked for the equaliser, while Pugh might have done better in space at the other end, Worgan with a comfortable save.

An even better chance fell Darts’ way in the last few minutes, Pugh squaring for unmarked Hayes, who could only hit Worgan’s legs.

Stones went close to a late leveller when Parry’s header hit the post, Ibrahim injured in the process and replaced in goal by outfield player Burns.

He flapped at a corner but Callum Davies volleyed over.

Maidstone: Worgan, Driver, Taylor, Davies, Parry, Rogers, Banya (Flisher 59mins), Sweeney (Dumaka 59mins), May, Paxman, Bodkin (Akrofi 80mins). Subs not used: Birchall, Karagiannis.

Dartford: Ibrahim (Burns 90mins), Gardiner, Wynter, Vint, Wood, Ferguson, Hayes, Bradbrook, Pugh, Cogan (Francis 67mins), Harris (Noble 22mins). Subs not used: Sykes, Dembele.

Attendance: 2,602.