CONCORD Rangers striker Tony Stokes says he is determined to continue his good form before he is forced to sit out three-matches through suspension.

The Beach Boys forward has netted twice already this term but, after scoring against Truro City last week, he was dismissed in the dying moments for an alleged stamp.

But the 28-year-old, who will miss games against Bishop’s Stortford, Margate and Sutton United, says he was devastated to receive the dismissal, just as he had broken back into the team after a stop-start season last time.

And he says he is determined to show his worth against Hemel Hempstead Town.

“I am playing well and scoring goals,” he said. “And that is what makes it so frustrating to have been sent off. It was at the end of the match and their guy was shielding the ball so I slid in and when we both got up I trod on him.

“But it was a mistake and I didn’t mean to do it. I must have had 25 messages after the game saying ‘who got sent off, because that isn’t you’ and that is right. I am not a malicious person.”

Fresh from seven goals in pre-season, Stokes says getting off to a good start under new management was crucial and he believes Concord should be sitting top of the league with 12 points, as opposed to ninth.

“We had a great start to the season with two wins,” he said. “But the game at Truro City could have gone either way and it was really frustrating the way that game played out. And it was the same against Dartford. You can’t afford to give good players the chance to play in this league or you will get punished.

“We just have to learn our lessons and go again tomorrow.

Hemel Hempstead won the corresponding fixture 1-0 last term, and have won both matches on the road so far this term, and Stokes says it will be a tough game.

“They beat us twice last season, once in the league and once in the FA Trophy, and they are a good side.

“We need to play at our best but we are more than capable of winning it.”

Stokes has a two-year old son named Chase with his wife Megan, and he says his first-born has changed his life for the better, and he is enjoying his football more because of it.

“He makes it all better,” he said. “I am not a nice person to be around after a bad result but I look at his face and everything is better. He takes the heartache out of football. And this is an amazing thing.”

l Left-back Tom Stephen is out for a minimum of three weeks after sustaining a leg injury on Tuesday, for which he had 10 stitches. However midfielder Max Cornhill is available after missing the midweek defeat to Dartford through work commitments.