FOUR players were sent off at Waterside Park on Saturday as both Thatcham and AFC Totton finished with nine men in an eventful 1-1 draw.

Totton's Danny Barker received a straight red after 30 minutes but, according to his side's assistant manager Sean New, the reason was unclear.

"Somebody threw a punch at Danny and he just put up his arms up in the air but the referee sent him off. The Thatcham chairman has said he'll come to the appeal for us," said New.

The rest of the action came in the last 24 minutes, Thatcham moving ahead after Tommy McCormack's shot was blocked by the keeper and Paul Taplin pounced to give the Berkshire side a 66th-minute lead.

Moments later, Totton's Gareth Byers and Thatcham's Ashley Perry were dismissed after clashing and it should have been 2-0 on 73 minutes but Totton keeper Ray Houkes brilliantly saved Ian Davies's penalty.

Thatcham were also reduced to nine men when Bob McClay saw red for a second bookable offence after 85 minutes before Matthew Monk equalised with a superb free-kick two minutes from time.

"Our players were superb. As for battling for each other, that was our best performance of the season," added New.