Darron Wilkinson has pleaded with his players to start taking some responsibility following their fifth red card in six matches.

Nick Salapatas was dismissed for swinging an elbow at Alex Bentley as the pair fought for the ball during Harrow Borough’s FA Trophy tie at AFC Hornchurch, which the Reds lost 2-0.

Assistant boss Wilkinson admits it is a problem that needs to be rectified immediately if the club are to climb away from the bottom of the Ryman Premier table.

“It’s not condoned at all,” he said. “Sometimes the player has to stand up and be counted for.

“I don’t know how long it will be until the penny drops.”

After being given red cards in successive games last month, striker Steve Butterworth has left Earlsmead, which Wilkinson hopes will resonate with the rest of the squad.

“Things like dissent and answering back to the referee we don’t condone at all. We can’t have that going on at the club,” he said.

“You can see why the players get frustrated. In the Canvey game [when Harrow lost 1-0], we’ve got a picture that Marc Charles-Smith’s equaliser was not offside. Then frustration boils over between the players [and the officials], but we can’t blame the officials.”

Borough have just four wins from 17 league matches this season. Their chance to improve on that was denied when Tuesday night’s home game with Tonbridge Angels was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch.

They travel to Kingstonian on Saturday, when they hope to welcome back a number of players – including Anthony Maissiat, Franny Otira and Michael Peacock – and then go to Northwood for the Middlesex Senior Cup second round on Tuesday.

Wilkinson says the players are now fully aware they cannot afford to keep shooting themselves in the foot, and must make sure they keep 11 men on the field for the full 90 minutes.

“They’re letting their team-mates down,” he said. “They’re putting the other lads in a difficult situation where they’ve got to play with 10 men for a good hour of the game. You can only hold on for so long.

“It’s a bit gutting really.”

Harrow’s tenants Hendon booked an FA Trophy second qualifying round home tie with Worthing after a 3-1 win at Bury Town on Saturday, thanks to Belal Aite-Ouakrim (two) and Lee O’Leary.

They host Grays Athletic in the Ryman Premier on Saturday, then travel to Staines Town for the Middlesex Senior Cup second round on Tuesday.

Wembley earned an FA Vase second round tie at home to Bratham Athletic after overcoming Bower and Pitsea 3-2 on Saturday. The goals came from Yassine Fehmi-Gil, Alex Witham and Joe Wright.

The Lions had their home Middlesex Senior Charity Cup first round tie with Wingate and Finchley on Tuesday postponed because of a waterlogged pitch.

They visit Kings Langley in the Spartan South Midlands Premier Division on Saturday, and host North Greenford United in the Middlesex Senior Cup second round on Tuesday.

Edgware Town were thumped 6-0 in Spartan South Midlands Division One at the weekend. They face Arlesey Town Reserves on Saturday and are away at London Lions on Wednesday.

Rayners Lane were beaten 4-1 by Headington Amateurs in Hellenic League Division One East at the weekend. Saturday’s opponents are Penn and Tylers Green, and they visit Carterton for the third round of the Hellenic Floodlit Cup on Tuesday.