Andy Brown's header on the stroke of half-time moved Nuneaton off the bottom of the league table with a victory over play-off hopefuls Dartford.

Danny Newton and Connor Taylor went close for the hosts, before Brown converted Neil Cartwright's cross for the only goal of the game.

Dartford's Harry Crawford put his header over the bar, while Jon Wallis had also squandered a chance to level.

Nuneaton are now only three points adrift of safety.

Dartford remain in the Blue Square Bet Premier play-off positions on goal difference ahead of sixth-placed Luton Town, although the Hatters have two games in hand.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Dartford manager Tony Burman told BBC Radio Kent:

"I can't say it's one of the best performances we've had but fair play to Nuneaton. They've battled away and we tried to make things too difficult.

"I hate to concede from a set piece when it's 46 minutes and somebody makes a stupid challenge.

"We should have had a stonewall penalty without any shadow of a doubt but please don't hide the fact that we put in a poor shift and that's not acceptable."

Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (3)

Nuneaton Town

  • 23 Smith
  • 02 Cartwright
  • 05 Dean
  • 14 Forsdick Booked
  • 15 Gordon
  • 18 James (York - 62' )
  • 21 O'Halloran
  • 06 Walker Booked
  • 10 Brown
  • 17 Newton
  • 26 Taylor

Substitutes

  • 11 Adams
  • 12 Armson
  • 13 Sleath
  • 07 York
  • 20 Thompson-Brown

Dartford

  • 12 Bettinelli
  • 02 Rose
  • 04 Champion
  • 05 Ajayi
  • 13 Rogers
  • 08 Wallis
  • 14 Noble (Collier - 78' Booked )
  • 20 Burns
  • 07 Hayes (Crawford - 54' )
  • 09 Erskine
  • 11 Harris

Substitutes

  • 24 Sutton
  • 03 Green
  • 15 Collier
  • 26 Monger
  • 21 Crawford
Ref: Johnson
Att: 651

Match Stats

Shots

10 5

On target

7 3

Corners

4 2

Fouls

13 12

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +3:30 Full time

Full Time The final whistle goes and the game is over.

90:00 +3:13

Foul by Simon Forsdick on Tom Champion, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Marcus Bettinelli.

90:00 +1:37

Short corner taken by Wesley York.

89:31

Effort on goal by Andy Brown from just outside the area goes harmlessly over the target.

88:46

Direct free kick taken by Neil Cartwright.

88:46 Booking

Booking Nathan Collier receives a caution.

88:43

Foul by Nathan Collier on Stephen O'Halloran, free kick awarded.

84:18

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Stephen O'Halloran by Lee Burns. Free kick taken by Adam Smith.

80:59

Nathan Collier delivers the ball.

79:21

Inswinging corner taken by Adam Walker from the right by-line.

78:59

A cross is delivered by Wesley York, Danny Newton takes a shot. Save by Marcus Bettinelli.

77:49 Substitution

Substitution Nathan Collier comes on in place of Lee Noble.

77:05

Wesley York takes a shot. Save by Marcus Bettinelli.

73:15

Jon Wallis fouled by Danny Newton, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Tom Champion.

72:54

Neil Cartwright gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Danny Harris. Direct free kick taken by Marcus Bettinelli.

72:20

Corner taken by Stephen O'Halloran.

72:13

Wesley York produces a cross, Tom Champion makes a clearance.

70:42

The ball is swung over by Harry Crawford, clearance made by Simon Forsdick.

70:10

Jon Wallis crosses the ball, Neil Cartwright manages to make a clearance.

69:07

Corner taken by Jon Wallis from the left by-line played to the near post, Header from close range by Harry Crawford clears the bar.

68:53

Jon Wallis takes a shot. Delroy Gordon gets a block in.

68:15

Delroy Gordon concedes a free kick for a foul on Danny Harris. Lee Noble takes the free kick.

66:36

The assistant referee flags for offside against Danny Harris. Indirect free kick taken by Adam Smith.

65:07

Wesley York fouled by Lee Burns, the ref awards a free kick. Neil Cartwright takes the free kick.

64:44

Lee Noble takes a shot. Save by Adam Smith.

64:12

Neil Cartwright concedes a free kick for a foul on Danny Harris. Jon Wallis takes the free kick.

64:03

Danny Newton takes a shot. Save made by Marcus Bettinelli.

62:08

Stephen O'Halloran crosses the ball.

61:48

Free kick awarded for a foul by James Rogers on Gareth Dean. Adam Smith restarts play with the free kick.

61:08 Substitution

Substitution Tom James goes off and Wesley York comes on.

56:08

The assistant referee signals for offside against Andy Brown. Tom Champion takes the free kick.

54:38 Booking

Booking Simon Forsdick receives a caution.

54:07

Unfair challenge on Jon Wallis by Simon Forsdick results in a free kick. Lee Noble takes the direct free kick.

53:32

The ball is sent over by Harry Crawford.

53:03 Substitution

Substitution Ryan Hayes leaves the field to be replaced by Harry Crawford.

52:03

Effort from deep inside the area by Andy Brown misses to the left of the goal.

51:28

Adam Walker fouled by Tom Champion, the ref awards a free kick. Delroy Gordon restarts play with the free kick.

47:58

Danny Newton gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on James Rogers. Jon Wallis takes the direct free kick.

47:14

The ball is crossed by Andy Brown, Lee Burns manages to make a clearance.

45:01

The second half begins.

45:00 +1:25 Half time

Half Time The ref blows to signal half-time.

45:00 +0:20

Assist by Neil Cartwright.

45:00 +0:20 Goal scored

Goal - Andy Brown - Nuneaton 1 - 0 Dartford Andy Brown finds the back of the net with a headed goal from close range. Nuneaton 1-0 Dartford.

44:18

Tom James fouled by Ryan Hayes, the ref awards a free kick. Neil Cartwright restarts play with the free kick.

43:09

The ball is swung over by Neil Cartwright.

42:45

Centre by Richard Rose, save made by Adam Smith.

42:31

The ball is swung over by Richard Rose, clearance by Connor Taylor.

42:16

Richard Rose sends in a cross, Stephen O'Halloran manages to make a clearance.

42:07

Centre by Ryan Hayes, clearance by Neil Cartwright.

41:17

Lee Burns sends in a cross, Adam Smith makes a save.

41:01

The ball is swung over by Ryan Hayes, Delroy Gordon makes a clearance.

40:20

Jacob Erskine is caught offside. Adam Smith takes the indirect free kick.

39:36 Booking

Booking Adam Walker goes into the referee's book.

39:10

Free kick awarded for a foul by Adam Walker on Danny Harris. James Rogers takes the direct free kick.

38:58

Tom James delivers the ball, Tom Champion manages to make a clearance.

34:45

Danny Newton takes a shot. Save by Marcus Bettinelli.

32:50

Danny Newton is adjudged to have handled the ball. Direct free kick taken by Marcus Bettinelli.

31:47

The ball is swung over by Stephen O'Halloran.

31:19

Tom James crosses the ball, Stephen O'Halloran takes a shot. Tom Champion gets a block in.

31:00

The ball is sent over by Stephen O'Halloran, clearance by Jon Wallis.

29:37

Free kick awarded for a foul by Lee Noble on Gareth Dean. Adam Smith restarts play with the free kick.

29:26

The ball is swung over by Ryan Hayes, clearance by Gareth Dean.

28:04

Effort from the edge of the area by Lee Noble goes wide of the right-hand post.

26:21

Richard Rose gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Simon Forsdick. Neil Cartwright takes the direct free kick.

25:08

The assistant referee flags for offside against Lee Noble. Indirect free kick taken by Adam Smith.

24:12

Danny Harris crosses the ball, save made by Adam Smith.

23:17

Danny Harris is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Adam Smith takes the free kick.

22:39

Jon Wallis gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Tom James. Adam Smith takes the direct free kick.

20:29

Danny Harris sends in a cross, Gareth Dean manages to make a clearance.

17:01

Free kick awarded for a foul by Simon Forsdick on James Rogers. Tom Champion takes the free kick.

15:35

Tom James crosses the ball, free kick awarded for a foul by Danny Newton on Marcus Bettinelli. Direct free kick taken by Marcus Bettinelli.

14:07

Jacob Erskine challenges Gareth Dean unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Adam Smith.

13:36

The ball is swung over by Danny Newton, save by Marcus Bettinelli.

12:41

Unfair challenge on Richard Rose by Connor Taylor results in a free kick. Marcus Bettinelli takes the direct free kick.

11:38

Unfair challenge on Andy Brown by James Rogers results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Tom James.

10:31

Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Lee Noble, clearance by Delroy Gordon.

11:05

The assistant referee signals for offside against Lee Noble. Adam Smith takes the indirect free kick.

10:31

Outswinging corner taken by James Rogers from the left by-line, Delroy Gordon makes a clearance.

9:48

The ball is sent over by Tom James, save made by Marcus Bettinelli.

6:12

Corner taken left-footed by Tom James, Effort on goal by Connor Taylor from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the target.

5:57

Danny Newton takes a shot. Save by Marcus Bettinelli.

3:52

Jacob Erskine fouled by Gareth Dean, the ref awards a free kick. Jon Wallis takes the direct free kick.

2:04

Free kick awarded for a foul by Andy Brown on Tom Champion. Marcus Bettinelli restarts play with the free kick.

1:43

Neil Cartwright crosses the ball.

0:38

Ryan Hayes takes a shot. Save by Adam Smith.

0:26

Foul by Jacob Erskine on Gareth Dean, free kick awarded. Gareth Dean takes the direct free kick.

0:00

The referee gets the game underway.

Live text and data provided by The Press Association