Colchester United have won their latest warm-up game 1-0, just across the QE2 bridge at Dartford.
It was another tough test for the U's, following the draw at Dagenham & Redbridge last Tuesday.
And it took until the eightieth minute to make the breakthrough.
With time running out, a Dickenson cross was turned into his own net by home defender Vint to give the U's the winner.
The game started with the hosts looking lively, and Sam-Yorke headed over from an early corner.
A corner at the other end saw the U’s first chances, with Diaz Wright’s effort blocked before Tom Eastman rolled a cross agonisingly across the six yard box.
On nine minutes, an accidental clash between Gilmartin and Pugh saw the Dartford striker stretchered off looking in great pain.
He was replaced by Oyenuga, and the sub was at the heart of everything attacking form then on.
He beat the offside trap on twenty two minutes, and then strode into the box after Kensdale slipped, but could only drive his shot wide of the target.
Courtney Senior had a shot wide, and then Kane Vincent-Young and Aaron Collins were denied by blocks by the home defence.
Oyenuga then had his shot blocked on the edge of the box, but regained possession and forced Gilmartin into a save to his right.
A good turn and run from the halfway line then saw the home sub test Gilmartin again, but the U’s keeper was equal to it and palmed the shot to safety.
A better chance fell to former U’s youngster Billy Roast, but he could only deflect his effort from five yards out over the bar.
The home side continued to put pressure on the U’s, but once again, Gilmartin denied them on thirty six minutes, diving low to push away an Oyenuga header.
The U’s came back into the game in the closing minutes of the half, with a Mandron cross just evading Collins, and Luke Prosser heading over a late corner.
And they had the first effort of the second period, with Senior denied by a good save after a jinking run into the box.
On fifty six minute, Diaz Wright was next to break forward, running from midfield and unfortunately curling his right foot shot high and wide.
A strong run on the right by Senior set up Vincent-Young, but the wingback’s shot flew over the bar.
Mass substitutions came on the hour for the U’s, with Barnes, Jackson, Kent, Lapslie, Pell, Szmodics, Nouble and Dickenson replacing everyone except Senior, Eastman and Vincent-
Young.
The home side had to wait until the seventieth minute for their first real opening of the second half - and it was no surprise that it was Oyenuga, this time curling his effort high into the side-netting.
And five minutes later, Roast headed over from a left wing corner as the home side looked for an opening.
The U’s took the play to the other end, with Jackson toeing his effort over after good play on the right by Senior and Nouble.
Collins returned to the action on seventy seven minutes, with Courtney Senior coming off.
The breakthrough came ten minutes from the end, with Brennan Dickenson’s drilled cross turned into his own net by Dartford defender Vint.
It was almost two a few minutes later, when Harry Pell sidefooted his effort off target after Dickenson’s cross found him, via a setback from Sammie Szmodics.