With former player and more recently caretaker boss Liam Cutbush permanently ensconced in the manager's seat, Swifts made progress through to the last 32 of the FA Trophy, though not without some scares along the way.

As might have been expected Dr Martens League Eastern Division outfit Dartford started like a train, with Kingsley Banks saving well from a Roberts free-kick and then again as Lee Guiver, former Chelmsford City striker, looked swift and lively.

A tricky Caton run into the area was Swifts' best early riposte.

The Darts then came back to hit the bar and Swifts' Ian Wiles came on after 22 minutes, Caton having taken a knock on the ankle.

A Guiver solo effort after 27 minutes put the Darts ahead, his low shot evading Banks despairing dive and finding the cornet of the net.

On 35 minutes Swifts' skipper Gary Waters, having been booked earlier, rose well to head a Ross Taylor free-kick across goal and the ball trickled into the net for an equaliser.

Simon Parker's fine run into the box saw a shot tipped over, and Adam Gillespie's snap effort was well saved, so it was all square at the break.

Swifts looked livelier in the second half, a Mark Cranfield cross just evading Parker, and Christian McClean's header was straight at Colin Lewington.

The vastly experienced Lewington then saved well again from Gillespie, but he was finally beaten on 83 minutes by Nicky Simpson's strike from 18 yards out that curled delightfully into the Darts' net to secure a hard fought win.

Heybridge Swifts: Banks, Cranfield, Taylor, Haydon, Waters, Gillespie, Simpson, Parker, Caton (Wiles 22 minutes), Streetley and McClean.

Unused substitutes: Warwick, McKrory, Bond and Morden.

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