Two former Hawks stars sent off as Dorking still win to leap into second place in the National League South

Wes Fogden was sent off in the first half of a 3-1 victory at Concord Rangers and Alfie Rutherford was shown the red card shortly after the hour mark.

Fogden was dismissed for violent conduct - the referee believing he had instigated a clash of heads with Concord’s Sam Blackman.

Rutherford was initially booked for a foul on Jason Raad, but after consulting with one of his linesmen the referee upgraded the striker’s punishment.

The score was 1-1 when Dorking were reduced to nine men, Alex Wall having cancelled out Jason Prior’s early penalty for the visitors.

Remarkably, it was Dorking who ended the stronger - Prior restoring their lead with his second spot-kick 10 minutes from time.

It was his ninth league goal in eight games of 2020/21, taking him two clear of Billericay’s Jake Robinson in the race for the NLS Golden Boot.

Matt Briggs extended Dorking’s lead before Wall became the game’s third dismissal when he was sent off for dissent.

Dorking are three points behind Dartford, but with two games in hand, and will go top on goal difference if they beat Oxford City on Tuesday.

Table-topping Dartford defeated Slough Town 2-0 to record their seventh win in 10 NLS matches.

Ex-Charlton striker Chris Dickson scored both goals on his debut - in the 46th and 51st minutes.

Dickson has been signed on a dual registration from Hornchurch, with the Isthmian Leaguers currently unable to play due to the lockdown on ‘non-elite’ non-league football.

Hawks, having only played five games, are down in ninth place.

If they won all their games in hand, they would be at least level on points with every team above them apart from St Albans City.

City, who were fourth from bottom when the 2019/20 season was curtailed, are protecting the only unbeaten record left in the NSL.

They have won five and drawn two so far, with the latest result a 0-0 draw against another surprise high-flier, Hungerford Town, at the weekend.