Eastbourne Borough’s league winning streak ended abruptly at Dartford on Saturday as a clinical home side scored four in the first half, handing the Sports their first league defeat since August.

Although Liam Nash scored on his return to the Borough team, it proved no more than a consolation as Dan Smith, Max Fiddes and player-manager Ben Greenhalgh were all on target, with the full-time score 4-1 at Princes Park.

Steve King was forced to make changes as an unwell Freddie Carter and Arthur Grout were replaced by Harry Phipps and Paul McCallum. Nash was involved for the first time since September but was on the bench.

The hosts might have been ahead inside a minute had Lewis Carey not been alert. A corner from the right was sent to the far post where Ben Swift made contact and forced Carey to get down low and claw the ball off the line.

Borough battle at Dartford - but it was not their day | Nick Redman

placeholder image — Borough battle at Dartford - but it was not their day | Nick Redman

Josh Rees should actually have scored with the first Borough chance of note. McCallum managed to spray a pass into open space, where Darren McQueen raced to get in on goal. After being halted, he cut the ball back to Rees, 12 yards from goal, but he didn’t catch his effort well and the chance trickled into the hands of Dartford keeper Ryan Sandford.

They would rue that missed chance as the Darts went ahead on 15 minutes. After a long ball was sent upfield, Fiddes controlled superbly with an improvised flick before playing to strike partner Smith on the left, he jinked past Phipps before finding the far corner to give Dartford the lead.

Borough went in search of an immediate response as Kai Corbett’s cross was headed narrowly over by a Darts defender. Yet, just eleven minutes after the first goal, Dartford extended their lead via Fiddes. Smith turned provider, flicking the ball to Fiddes, who cut onto his left foot before producing a reversed finish into the far corner.

The game started to become end-to-end, but the Sports just could not hit the target. McQueen was unlucky to see his deflected effort strike the base of the post from the edge of the box, and McCallum could only head straight at Sandford.

Dartford made it three through player-manager Greenhalgh just after the half hour. Matthew Hayden made a mess of a clearance and it landed at Greenhalgh’s feet on the edge of the box, and he took a touch to set up a low drive past Carey.

Sandford was determined to keep a clean sheet against his former side as he made another fine stop to deny Rees. Max Sheaf’s cross from deep was pinpoint and met the head of an onrushing Rees. From just six yards, Rees thought he had pulled one back, but Sandford reacted sharply to parry out and behind.

It was the same old story just before half-time as another mistake allowed Fiddes to make it four. A poor pass led to a one-on-one opportunity with Fiddes against Hayden, and Dartford’s forward outmuscled Borough’s number two, before firing into the bottom corner.

The Sports looked for a response in the second 45 as they dominated possession against a stubborn Dartford block. They had to be patient for chances, but just felt it was not their day as they hit the woodwork again. Corbett’s free-kick panicked Sandford but smashed against the bar.

There was a consolation for Borough, and a fitting goal on his return for Nash. Fellow substitute Terrell Egbri’s cross was helped on by Shay Harrison towards Nash, and after miscuing a first attempt, he produced an instinctive scorpion kick into the roof of the net.

However, even with the momentum on their side, Borough couldn’t grab any more goals back.