Dartford collected their fifth red card in just four away games at Aveley on Saturday.

A lack of discipline by Ikechi Eze saw him sent-off in a flashpoint that left both sides with 10 men.

Callum Jones then gave the Darts a second-half lead only for the home side to hit back with a late equaliser.

Both sides had chances inside the first five minutes. A dangerous Aveley free-kick was touched onto the top of his own bar by Darts forward Jones with keeper Jonny Henly rooted to his line.

Then an incisive break saw Eddie Dsane exchange passes with Olly Box before keeper Joe Wright made a smart save to deny him an opener.

There was a sign of things to come after nine minutes when an awful challenge by Aveley’s Suley Zuhdu earned him a yellow card.

The game became increasingly scrappy with neither side able to string many passes together or create clear-cut chances.

But it came to life on 29 minutes following Albie Armin’s poor challenge on, the presumably targeted, Dsane. Eze’s foolish reaction against his former club saw him jump in and strike Armin on the head. Zuhdu then got involved in the melee and was lucky to avoid a second yellow card.

Referee Oliver Kaya spoke to his assistant before showing a red card to Armin and then one for Eze’s reaction.

Aveley were in danger of totally losing their heads with Ryan Charles collecting a yellow card for a poor foul on George Whitefield.

Dartford nearly broke the deadlock four minutes before half-time as a poor defensive header went straight to Box, but his right-foot shot came crashing back off the upright.

Dsane forced another good save from Wright early in the second half while Aveley had a free-kick at the other end that went straight at the defensive wall.

The breakthrough came on 65 minutes when a period of Darts pressure ended with the ball played into the feet of Jones and he turned his man before firing low beyond Wright.

Dartford nearly doubled their lead on 72 minutes when a good spell of possession saw them create space, Sam Smith driving forward to play in Dsane, whose shot was tipped over by Wright.

Aveley substitute Alejandro Machado shot over at the other end, underlining the need for a second Dartford goal.

It nearly arrived in unusual circumstances as Smith spotted keeper Wright off his line and ley fly from inside his own half. The keeper fell over as he turned around so any shot on target would have been a goal but his effort ended up going harmlessly wide.

Box then showed great footwork in the box but his shot was blocked before the impressive Jez Pinder played in Jones but his shot was blocked behind.

Some poor Dartford defending with four minutes left nearly let the hosts in for an equaliser but Luther Williams hacked the ball clear. But the reprieve lasted only a matters of seconds as Darts failed to clear a ball into the box and Jayden Gipson produced an excellent hook finish to level the scores.

Aveley: Wright. Tinubu, Critchley, Armin, Henshaw (Brissett 77mins), Gipson, Peters, Sartorius (Machado 46mins), Charles (Liburd 68mins), Robinson (Harris 84mins), Zuhdu.

Dartford: Henly, S Smith, Whitefield, Jones, Olopade, Dsane (Carruthers 80mins), Box, Lee, Tennant, Williams, Pinder. Subs not used: Sullivan, Atta, O’Mara-Knapp, Atkins.

Referee: Oliver Kaya.

Attendance: 545.