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After establishing a club record start to a sixth tier campaign, with nine wins and two draws in their opening 11 games, they lost 1-0 at home to Oxford City.

A late, late goal from Josh Ashby gave the visitors a well-deserved success, while Wright was red-carded at the end after disputing a decision not to award Hawks a penalty.

Wright had come on as a second-half sub for Danny Wright, his first appearance since undergoing a pre-season operation.

Jake McCarthy unhappy at a decision during Hawks' home loss to Oxford City. Picture by Dave Haines

‘It was a deserved defeat,’ said Hawks boss Paul Doswell. ‘Oxford definitely deserved to win. They hit the post and the bar and they got their rewards late on.’

It was a second successive home loss for Hawks, who had conceded another late, late goal to crash out of the FA Cup against Weymouth a week earlier.

It was also the first home points Hawks had dropped all season, after five successive wins in front of their own supporters.

With Jason Prior still absent, Danny Wright passed a fitness test after being sidelined for a fortnight with a calf issue.

Goalkeeper Ross Worner and James Roberts react after Oxford's late winner. Picture by Dave Haines

But Doswell said the player wasn’t fully fit and ‘might not really have helped himself’ by starting against Oxford.

Hawks were without centre half Joash Nembhard for the first time in a NLS fixture this season, due to a foot injury. That meant Jake McCarthy partnered Joe Oastler.

‘It was a hard watch,’ Doswell told the Hawks’ YouTube channel. ‘The subs we made were attacking subs. Sometimes in this league you have to sacrifice a draw for a win because you need wins.

‘If we had got a point, I don’t think it would have been the right reflection of the game.

Tommy Wright replaces Danny Wright. Picture by Dave Haines

‘We’ve been missing some of our best players and it’s made a big difference. We’ve been struggling to get a team out in the last couple of weeks.’

Prior remains a doubt for Wednesday’s home match with Bath City, with Hawks now three points adrift of leaders Ebbsfleet, who were held to a 1-1 draw by Welling.

Dartford are only a point behind Hawks, but have played two games more.

Tommy Wright sent off on long-awaited return as Hawks’ unbeaten National League South run is ended by Oxford City