WESTON’S hopes for a successful start to their Blue Square South season were dealt a cruel blow by a Dartford squad who defended in depth, attacked with pace and never allowed Weston to develop their game.

Weston were without flu victim Matt Villis and it was evident his presence was badly missed by an over-stretched defence. When they had possession, Weston’s players came forward passing the ball across the field instead of taking a more direct approach and consequently they were marked out of the game.

Since 2008, Weston have been tormented by one player, Charlie Sheringham, son of England legend Teddy, who scored against the club for Cambridge City. Then he appeared for Bishop’s Stortford, Welling United and now Dartford and has consistently scored for his clubs, culminating with two strikes in four second-half minutes.

Weston did make a bright start with Kane Ingram firing narrowly wide on six minutes, but from Dartford’s first real attack on15 minutes it all went wrong. From the visitors’ first corner skipper Elliot Bradbrook hooked in from close range.

As Weston tried to get into the game, Martin Slocombe was just over with a free kick and Nabi Diallo tested Darts keeper Andy Young.

Sheringham produced the miss of the match on 36 minutes when he robbed Lloyd Irish on the edge of the penalty area, but fired wide with the goal open. But four minutes before the interval, Darts struck again, this time Ryan Hayes corner kick was knocked past Irish by Tom Bonner.

Sheringham got in on the act on 65 minutes, making space for himself down the left channel and controlling Hayes’ pass to beat Irish. Four minutes later he repeated the dose, making space from Matt Jones’ cross and easily beating Irish.

Near the end, Weston put on pressure, forcing four corners. Ingram had the ball in the Darts net but was ruled offside and then his low shot came back off the inside of a post.