Former Moneyfields 'bad boy' James Dunk lapsed into old ways for Newport IoW on Saturday, costing the relegation strugglers dear in a 4-1 home defeat by Metropolitan Police.

The Islanders had been coping well with their play-off chasing visitors until Dunk stupidly kicked out in retaliation on 32 minutes and was shown the red card.

Manager-in-waiting Steve Leigh said: "James was booked for a foul, then he's gone into the box and kicked their centre-forward who accidently stood on his foot. "He's already had a 112-day suspension this season, so you'd think he'd have learned by now.

"It was a bit of sillyness on his part and he knows he's let everyone down, including himself.

"We let in a sloppy goal from the free kick he gave away and although we were still well in it at half-time, we conceded again at the start of the second half and a few heads went down."

Bryan Brown, Scott Bennetts and Kevin Cooper put the Police three up before Leigh himself pulled a goal back on 80 minutes.

But with the Islanders pushing forward, Craig Brown nipped in with a late fourth for the Surrey side.