Dartford scored late to salvage a point against 10-man Oxford City on Saturday.

Elliot Bradbrook's penalty in the 89th minute followed the dismissal of visiting goalkeeper Laurie Walker and the home side almost snatched a last-gasp winner.

But they had to settle for a point and reaching the National League South play-offs now looks like a tall order for the Darts as they head to the final day of the season.

On-loan Millwall defender Keaton Wood missed the game with a chest infection so Paul Lorraine made his Dartford debut at centre-half alongside Ronnie Vint.

Danny Harris returned to the starting XI after injury, taking the place of Kaka Dembele, although illness ruled out striker George Sykes.

Lee Noble (groin) was missing again so Lee Burns kept his place in central midfield.

Dartford dominated the first half but couldn't make it count with a goal.

Elliot Bradbrook volleyed over when the visitors failed to clear a Ryan Hayes cross from the right although Matty Whichelow curled a free-kick narrowly wide at the other end.

Lorraine then won the ball in midfield and Darts worked the ball from right to left, with Andy Pugh seeing his deflected shot held by Walker.

Much of the home side's good work was coming through Hayes, who skipped past left-back Matt Peake-Pijen and drove a low shot towards the near post which Walker saved.

Dartford's pressing game kept Oxford pinned back for long spells. Harris won the ball near the centre circle and the home side had a three-on-three break although Hayes lost balance as he hooked a tame shot goalwards.

Oxford were playing a high line and they were almost punished when Bradbrook sent Pugh racing into space down the left. Bradbrook raced forward to get on the end of Pugh's low cross but his shot was carried wide of the far post via a deflection.

Tom Wynter had a header cleared off the line when he got a glancing touch to Hayes' inswinging corner from the right, although Oxford took the lead totally against the run of play a minute before half-time.

Lorraine gave the ball away as he looked to play out and Bradley Bubb fed Whichelow, who slipped a low shot beyond Dean Gardikiotis.

The goal was harsh on Dartford but they came out for the second half in positive fashion.

Pugh hooked a volley goalwards when Bradbrook headed on a long Wynter throw although Walker was well-positioned to make the save.

The home side were deservedly level on 53 minutes. Pugh showed great vision to find Hayes wide on the right and his cross into the box was headed home by Bradbrook.

But parity lasted for less than a minute. Connor McDonagh's driven right-wing cross hit Tom Gardiner, leaving Julen Lafuente with a tap-in.

Tom Bradbrook was sent on for the last 25 minutes as Darts boss Tony Burman urged his players to get the ball forward quickly. The home side piled bodies forward, which left them susceptible to counter-attacks, and Bubb had a goal ruled out for offside.

Harris dragged a shot wastefully wide of the near post before another attacking change saw Lorraine withdrawn and midfielder Barry Cogan introduced.

There was late drama when Walker was shown the red card after a huge melee in the Oxford six-yard box. Outfield player Declan Benjamin went in goal and could do nothing to keep out Bradbrook's penalty.

Pugh missed two gilt-edged chances in stoppage-time as Dartford threw everything at their visitors.

He blazed over from just a couple of yards out when Elliot Bradbrook drove the ball across goal and Pugh was then denied by Benjamin as he ran clean through in the dying seconds.

Dartford: Gardikiotis, Gardiner, Wynter, Vint, Lorraine (Cogan 76mins), Burns (T Bradbrook 65mins), Hayes, E Bradbrook, Pugh, Ferguson, Harris. Subs not used: Dembele, Simmons, Francis.

Oxford: Walker, Bevans, Peake-Pijen, Lapoujade, Santiago, Arzamendi, Bubb, Fleet, McDonagh (Benjamin 68mins), Lafuente, Whichelow. Subs not used: Pifarre, Knapton, Awadh.

Attendance: 1,190.