Tonbridge striker Carl Rook took his goal tally for the season to 14 with a hat-trick in Tuesday's 4-1 defeat of Dartford in a fiercely competitive Kent derby at Longmead.

Defeat condemned Darts to a third straight defeat in a dismal November for the club who had recovered well following an uncertain start to life in the Ryman League Premier Division. Rook opened the scoring in the third minute with Darts equalising in the 10th through Cody McDonald.

There was nothing to choose between the two in the rest of the half until Rook showed his predatory instincts by restoring Tonbridge's lead in stoppage time. After that Darts fell away leaving Tonbridge to dominate the second period.

Tommy Tyne increased the lead in the 72nd minute before Rook completed his hat-trick in the 82nd following powerful approach play by strike partner Ade Olorunda.

Sittingbourne referee Ian Gosling cautioned eight players _ Tyne, Ade Olorunda, Lewis Hamilton, Jamie Cade and Leon Legge of Tonbridge plus Dartford's Rob Haworth, Danny Dafter and Liam McDevitt.

Tonbridge manager Tommy Warrilow admitted afterwards that he had given his players a half-time rocket.

He said: "We never got out of the blocks in the first half when we sat too deep so I gave the players a rocket at the break. There was a big improvement in the second half and I have to say that was as good as I've seen Carl Rook play."

Dover's hopes of a 12th successive league victory were ended by a 1-0 defeat at Sutton.

The only goal of the game went Sutton’s way midway through the first half.

Craig Dundas went down under a challenge in the penalty area and the ball broke to Chukkie Eribenne who rolled it past keeper John Whitehouse from close range.

Dover did improve in the second half as Alan Pouton worked tirelessly and patiently to look for an opening. But with play increasingly condensed in the middle third of the field, Whites’ forward movement did little to trouble the United defence.

Maidstone suffered a 2-0 defeat against Carshalton at Bourne Park.

Results: Maidstone 0 Carshalton 2, Sutton 1 Dover 0, Tonbridge 4 Dartford 1.