Three Bridges took an early two-goal lead in their first match at Step 3, but Dartford rallied to secure a victory on their Isthmian League Premier Division debut on Saturday.

The home side started strongly, with new goalkeeper Harry Alexander White making a challenging clearance attempt that left an opposing player down, although play was allowed to continue. Dartford opened the scoring through Charlie Bennett, who converted two penalties within the opening 32 minutes, the second coming just before halftime. Despite falling behind, Three Bridges responded with a goal from Ben Greenhalgh before the break, narrowing the deficit to 2-1.

In the second half, Dartford quickly turned the game around, scoring twice in a three-minute span. Goals from Joe Tennent and Max Fiddes gave the visitors a 3-2 lead. Following these pivotal strikes, Dartford maintained firm defensive organization to preserve their advantage and close out the match.

The result marked an impressive comeback for Dartford, demonstrating their experience and resilience at this higher level of competition. Meanwhile, Three Bridges now face concerns over the fitness of brothers Josh and Reece Hallard, both of whom left the field early due to injuries sustained during the match.