AFC Telford 2 Dartford 3 - Report and pictures

The Bucks conceded a disastrous own-goal in stoppage time when 'keeper Freedy Hall dropped a cross onto the head of Danny Ventre and the ball bounced into the net.

Dartford took the lead against the run of play in the first half when striker Andy Pugh fired home.

Telford hit-back through a Grey penalty and then went on to dominate the game until Godfrey Poku was sent off for a red-card on the hour mark.

Dartford used their numerical advantage to regain the lead through Pugh before Grey tapped home for the 10-men from a corner.

But the stoppage time own-goal saw the Bucks crash to the disastrous defeat, with Conference surival now looking very unlikely.

Boss Kittrick made one change to the team that secured the 3-3 draw with Eastleigh.

Into the side came new signing Ian Sharps for a competitive debut, with the experienced centre-back also handed the captain's armband.

The switch meant Mike Grogan had to make do with a place on the substitutes bench.

And it was the home side who made a flying start to the match when Tony Gray twisted and turned his way into the box.

The striker's inviting cross was hacked clear but only as far as John Disney who fired inches over.

All the momentum was with the Bucks and they again came close to breaking the deadlock on 10 minutes

Tony Grey's shot hit strike partner Sam Smith with the ball falling kindly to Sean Clancy 12-yards from goal.

But with the goal at his mercy, the talented midfielder fired over from when he should have tested the 'keeper.

Kittrick's side were moving the ball well and often stringing 10 or 11 passes together as they probed for an opening.

And they came close to scoring a wonderful team goal when some neat build up-play saw Gray almost play-in Disney with an exquisite back heel.

With the full-back eagerly waiting to pull the trigger, a covering defender just nipped in to clear the danger.

And the succession of missed chances proved to be costly when Dartford went took the lead against the run of play on 24 minutes.

The Bucks failed to deal with a hopeful ball into the box and after a spell on pinball, striker Andy Pugh emphatically fired home.

Kittrick's side looked to respond immediately, with Clancy working himself space on the edge of the box before firing wide.

But it wasn't long until they were on level times with Grey converting from the penalty spot on the half-hour mark.

The lively striker initially nipped past a defender and crossed to Smith who was needlessly bundled over in the box with the referee pointing to the spot.

Grey grabbed the ball and fired a strike into the top corner which former Wales international 'keeper Jason Brown got a hand too but not enough to stop it nestling into the net.

The goal saw the Bucks up their tempo even further and they should have taken the lead in first half stoppage time.

Neill Byrne greeted a whipped in cross but his header was met with a spectacular one-handed save by Brown.

The home support were again appealing for a penalty in the first minute of the second half when an Adam Farrell cross appeared to hit an arm.

With the referee waving the protests away, the ball came back to Farrell who cut inside before firing just past Brown's post.

The misses spurred the away side into life with a spell of sustained possession eventually seeing Christian Doidge fire wide.

Telford responded with Byrne shooting straight at Brown from the edge of the box.

But the game completely turned on his head as the clock ticked past the hour mark when Godfrey Poku was given a straight red card.

Lee Noble was looking to shepherd the ball out for a goal kick, but was suddenly in a heap on the floor with Poku apparently throwing an elbow.

Referee Colin Lymer seemed to have no doubt in sending the Telford man on his way with Poku making the long walk to the tunnel shaking his head.

Kittrick responded by bringing on Grogan for Clancy.

And Telford continued to press with Sharps unlucky not to bundle the ball home following a succession of corners.

But the away side made their numerical advantage count with 10 minutes remaining.

A simple ball into the box was easily met by Pugh and he headed into the bottom left corner with the Telford defence non-existent.

Transfer listed Andy Owens was thrown on by Kittrick in place of Sam Smith in a bid to salvage something from the game.

And the move proved an inspired one as the Bucks pulled level just minutes later.

After forcing a corner, Grogan ghosted into the box and saw an effort box with the ball falling kindly for Grey who showed all his predatory instincts to slam it home.

With the New Bucks Head roaring, both teams went on the offensive.

First Dartford's Elliot Bradbrook burst through the middle before striking over.

Then Owens tricked his way to the edge of the box before hitting a deflected strike which sailed just past Brown's post.

But inside five minutes of stoppage time, the Bucks conceded a horrible own goal that will likely to have a devastating impact on their season.

Freddy Hall should have caught a whipped in cross, but instead the ball slipped through his hands.

Unbelievably the ball fell onto Ventre's head and bounced into the goal to put a huge dent in Telford's survival hopes.

Two goal striker Pugh saw red minutes later after picking up a second yellow card for kicking the ball away.

But the whistle blew seconds later, with Telford somehow having conceded three goals against a Dartford team who rarely threatened.