Conference Premier outfit Dartford have signed Crawley Town defender Connor Essam on a one-month loan.

Essam has made 12 first-team appearances for Crawley since arriving from Gillingham in January, but the 21-year-old has received less than an hour of game time in League One this season.

Crawley boss Richie Barker said: "Connor needs games and he will get plenty of opportunities in the next month at a club quite close to where he lives.

"He is still an important part of my plans, but he needed to get matches under his belt and we wish him well."

Essam is expected to make his debut for Dartford in this afternoon's home clash with Gateshead.