Dartford went top of National League South again as their 10 men beat Braintree on Saturday.

It was a tale of two halves, which saw Charlie Sheringham put the home team ahead from the spot before captain Tom Bonner was sent off, after a dull and goalless first period.

Winger Luke Coulson netted the Darts’ second despite their numerical disadvantage and, although the visitors pulled one back, Dartford substitute Samir Carruthers extended his team’s unbeaten run to 11 matches in all competitions with two late goals off the bench, including a penalty, as it finished 4-1.

There were nervy moments for the home contingent in front of a crowd of 1,028 at Princes Park inside 80 seconds as a long throw from Braintree’s newest recruit Jack Cawley was flicked on at the near post but Alan Dowson’s men cleared.

In the fifth minute, Dartford's Sheringham was booked after an off-the-ball incident amid an uneventful first half.

Midway through the first period, a Sam Odaudu long throw looked set to drift out for a corner, only for a visiting player to clear when most appeared to assume the ball was set to drift out of play. It was then recycled to the right but Max Statham’s cross drifted harmlessly out for a goal kick as The Iron stifled their hosts.

Just before the half-hour mark, Odaudu's left-wing delivery caused the away side problems, the ball inadvertently deflecting inches wide off Kyran Clements’ boot.

The hosts went close in the 41st minute. A Coulson corner caused problems and centre-back Connor Essam ended up on the ground, having tried to bundle home from close range, and Braintree survived.

But five minutes after the restart, Dartford broke the deadlock, with the match a much livelier affair in the second half. Pierre Fonkeu was adjudged to have been fouled by Clements by referee Ben Atkinson and Fonkeu’s strike partner Sheringham sent visiting keeper Jack Sims the wrong way for his fourth goal of the season.

With 54 minutes played, Braintree came close to a quick leveller, though. Jon Benton’s free-kick was half-cleared and, with an away player having sent the ball back inside the penalty box, Clements nodded just over.

Fine work by Odaudu, four minutes later, then saw The Darts almost double their advantage. He drove down the left and delivered early, with Braintree defender John White’s attempted interception falling inches wide of Sims’ right-hand post.

But the 63rd minute saw Dowson’s side reduced to 10 men. Bonner was given a second yellow card inside the space of 10 minutes, although the centre-back felt the foul should have been given the other way.

That didn’t deter the Darts, though, who doubled their tally on 68 minutes through a stunning effort by Coulson from outside the area, which left the net bulging.

With 18 minutes remaining, the visitors felt they should have had a penalty when Alfred Payne’s cross appeared to be handled by a Dartford defender in the box - but nothing was given.

Braintree did pull one back, seven minutes later. Clements converted a Kyron Farrell corner with a powerful header.

And they had the ball in the net again in the 87th minute. Matthew Rush lifted over Darts keeper Joe Young, who did get a faint touch on the effort, however it was ruled out for offside.

But at the other end, Dartford substitute Carruthers sealed the victory in the final seconds of normal time.

He cut in off the left and bent his effort beyond Sims and into the far corner, even leaving Braintree boss Angelo Harrop applauding. And stoppage time saw another penalty for the hosts which was converted by Carruthers in fine fashion to round off the victory.

It leaves Carruthers as the Darts' top scorer having bagged eight goals this campaign.

They are now a point ahead of second-placed Ebbsfleet, who were in FA Cup action, but they have played three league fixtures more while defeat ended The Iron's four-game winning run.

The Darts had made one change to their starting line-up from the side which had beaten Welling 5-1 on Tuesday night. Sheringham replaced on-loan Crawley frontman Davide Rodari, who dropped to the bench and was an unused substitute.

Maidstone loanee defender Cawley, whose signing was announced before the game, made his first Braintree start.

Dartford: Young, Wynter, Essam, Bonner, Coulson (Carruthers 80mins), Statham, Smith, Fonkeu, Sheringham (Wall 80mins), Odaudu, Johnson (Murtagh 85mins). Subs not used: Wilks, Rodari.

Braintree Town: Sims, Clemons, Farrell, Clements, White, Cawley, Benton, Payne (Boachie 80mins), Amantchi (Regis 80mins), Muscatt (Davies 64mins), Rush. Subs not used: Niewmczycki, Altintop.

Referee: Ben Atkinson.

Attendance: 1,028.