Barnet are up to sixth in the Skrill Premier after the Bees defeated Dartford 1-0 at The Hive but head coach Edgar Davids was sent off in the victory. 

It was a poor match with little quality football played. But a first half goal from Jon Nurse settled the contest. The striker did brilliantly to turn a Keanu Marsh-Brown cross past Phil Smith. 

Davids, who had earlier been booked, was sent off with nine minutes remaining for a foul on Lee Noble. It was the Dutchman's second dismissal of the campaign. 

The two sides had met less than two weeks ago. On that occasion Barnet claimed a 2-0. 

There were three changes to the Bees side. In came David Stephens, Jack Saville and Luke Gambin in place of Mark Byrne, Kieran Cadogan and Carl Fletcher.

The Bees started the contest poorly and Dartford almost took a deserved early lead when Elliot Bradbrook curled a shot narrowly past Graham Stack’s post.

The hosts responded and Ahmed Abdulla headed into the arms of Smith after a fine cross from stand-in left-back Davids.

Barnet looked sluggish throughout the opening 45 minutes and defensive mistakes were not punished by the visitors.

And then, on the half-hour mark, the Bees nicked a goal. The ever dangerous Marsh-Brown whipped a cross in behind the Darts’ defence and Nurse, who had replaced the injured George Sykes seven minutes earlier, intelligently volleyed past Smith.

The goal gave Barnet security and they began to look more confident in possession. Gambin cut in from the right and forced Smith into a routine stop. It was the final chance of the first half.

The second period lacked any fluency and the game became scrappy. 

Barnet should have added a second when a cross was met by Gambin at the back post but the young winger side footed wide from six yards out.

Stack had been largely untested and that continued as Adam Birchall fired a shot comfortably over the crossbar.

The game sparked into life in the final ten minutes after Davids received the fourth red card of his Barnet career.

The Dutchman, who had earlier been booked, barged into Noble on the touchline and was shown a second yellow card.

The resultant free kick was taken by Noble and his looping cross required Stack to push the ball over the crossbar.

A reshuffle was required and Saville moved to left-back with Curtis Weston slotting into the backline.

Dartford pushed men forward and Noble sent a curled effort towards the far corner. Fortunately for the Bees, Stack brilliantly tipped the effort wide.

In stoppage time the Darts felt they should have been awarded a penalty when Noble went down in the area under pressure from Andy Yiadom and Stephens.

Despite loud appeals from the travelling support, referee Craig Hicks allowed play to continue and Barnet were able to see out the final moments and seal victory.

Barnet: Stack; Yiadom, Stephens, Saville, Davids; Weston, Abdulla; Marsh-Brown, Villa (Byrne 77), Gambin (Cadogan 71); Sykes (Nurse 23).

Barnet substitutes: Jupp, Acheampong.

Dartford: Smith, Burns, Bradbrook, Sterling, Essam, Harris, Birchall (Dembele 89), Martin (Collier 75), Noble, Clark, Stevenson.

Dartford substitutes: Julian, Cornhill, Woodyard.