Charlie Sheringham returned to Princes Park with a bang as he scored but was later sent off.

The striker, playing his first home game since rejoining the Darts from Hemel Hempstead, tucked away a penalty against Eastbourne on Saturday.

But Sheringham was shown a second yellow card in the second half for catching defender Harry Ransom in the face as the pair jumped for a header.

"Eventful is probably the best way to sum it up," Sheringham said. "I played quite well, scored a goal to equalise and was a little bit unfortunate to get sent off.

"I'm gutted that I can't play next week and keep going. I came here to play and score some goals and that's going to hinder my game time.

"But I loved it. I really enjoy playing at Princes Park for Dartford. There's still a lot of old faces around the club and some players I've played with here before so I really enjoyed being back."

Sheringham only had eyes for the ball when he and Ransom jostled to meet Deren Ibrahim's long punt upfield in the 78th minute.

He won the header and play continued briefly, with Dartford getting men in the box for a Ben Greenhalgh cross, before the referee blew his whistle.

Sheringham said: "We clearly had a collison because he got a cut lip but there was no malice in my challenge. I've never gone out to elbow anybody.

"When you jump for a header, you try to get up early to stop the defender getting on top of you.

"I didn't lead with my elbow, I just jumped with my arms, as you do, and I was above him.

"I feel like he's gone into my elbow rather than me swinging my elbow at him. I was already higher, I won the header and he's come off worse in the collision.

"I said sorry to him and went to make sure he was all right afterwards but there was no malice in it so I feel it was a little bit harsh."

Sheringham will miss Dartford's trip to Billericay in National League South on Saturday.