Wealdstone moved out of the National League South relegation zone on Saturday by beating divisional new-boys Dartford 2-1 to clinch their second league win of the season.

Last season’s top scorer, Jefferson Louis, was the star of the show and the veteran strike made the Stones’ opener for centre-back Tom Hamblin before claiming the assist for Shaun Lucien’s effort after the break too.

Tom Bradbrook's header set up a tense finish but the Stones held on for a vital three points, stretching their unbeaten league run to five matches and seeing Gordon Bartlett’s side up to the dizzying heights of 17th.

Dale Binns cleared an early corner off the line for hosts Wealdstone, who had shouts for a penalty waved away when loanee Cambridge United Matthew Lowe stumbled in the box.

That aside, a drab affair was ambling towards half-time goalless when Louis controlled a corner from the left and held off the challengers before squaring for Hamblin to drill his shot calmly through a crowd of bodies.

Dartford’s lack of confidence was palpable and the Kent side struggled to find control of the ball with too passes many lumped forward aimlessly.

The Stones doubled their lead on 54 minutes. Louis again displayed his strength as he ran across the box before teeing up Lucien, who side-footed a calm finish to the far corner to give Bartlett’s side breathing space.

Dartford rallied with Bradbrook firing inches over before sending a thumping header in off the bar to halve the arrears with just over 15 minutes to play and a tense finish.

However, great defending, typified by the outstanding Joshua McLeod-Urquhart, meant an Andy Pugh shot straight at Jonathan North in stoppage time was as close as Dartford came to a point.

The Stones travel to Wessex league side Brockenhurst in the FA Cup third qualifying round on Saturday.

Wealdstone: North, Duffy (Corcoran 82), Binns, McLeod-Urquhart, Hamblin, Godfrey, Wright, Lowe, Louis (McGleish 90), Ball (Davies 76), Lucien.

Subs not used: Hudson-Odoi, Calcutt Attendance: 665