Maidstone United manager George Elokobi says Raphe Brown a victim of mistaken identity following his red card at Tonbridge Angels

George Elokobi said Raphe Brown’s red card was a case of mistaken identity after late drama in Maidstone’s derby draw at Tonbridge.

Brown is set to miss the Stones’ FA Cup third-round tie against Stevenage on January 6 after picking up a second yellow card at Longmead on Boxing Day.

He’d been substituted in the closing stages to protect him from the threat of a second caution.

But he was picked out following a skirmish in front of the away dugout after Jordan Higgs’ 94th-minute leveller for Tonbridge in a 1-1 draw.

Brown, however, was an innocent bystander, with Timmy Abraham the guilty party.

Abraham tried to take responsibility but Brown was dismissed by referee Nick Dunn.

“They came and celebrated in front of our dugout which I thought was a little bit over the top,” said Stones boss Elokobi.

“We don’t do that as a football club. If that’s how they do it here, fair enough, it’s a local derby.

“I turned round and saw the wrong player got booked in Raphe Brown.

“Timmy has owned up and said he was the one that was in there.

“Raphe got booked, which is a second yellow card and ended up being a red card, which is mistaken identity.”

Elokobi was also booked despite trying to act as a peacemaker.

He was set to discuss the situation with the officials.

It was his first game back in the dugout following a touchline ban.

Elokobi said: “I’m not going to say any more until I speak to the officials in terms of I don’t know why I got booked, when I stayed completely away from it.

“If I’ve done wrong, I don’t understand. That’s all I’m saying. But I need to speak to them. I need to understand.”

Elokobi praised a good away performance as Maidstone halted their mini-slump.

The Stones travelled to Longmead after three successive