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.

Downton manager Jeff Softley was another happy man after watching his side follow up their first point of the season last weekend with their first win of the campaign on Saturday, 4-2 at home to Hamble.

"We're playing well now," smiled the Robins boss. "I've managed to get a few players in and we're working harder in training. This really was a must-win game for us today."

Matt Guy rifled the Wiltshire side into a tenth-minute lead and an unfortunate headed own goal by Darren Hedges doubled Downton's advantage after 25 minutes.

A 40-yard strike by Neil Ward just before half-time reduced the arrears only for Guy (60) and Kevin Thick (75) to put the game out of reach. Hedges partly redeemed himself by netting at the right end late on.

Two goals by Nicky Wyatt (30 and 78 minutes), sandwiched around a Luke Gogan effort (54), earned Moneyfields a 2-1 verdict at home to BAT.

Efforts by Jimmy Edwards and Ryan Lucas also saw Hamworthy United triumph 2-1 over Bemerton Heath Harlequins, who had led through Stuart Findlay.

Jason Lovell headed in a Terry Cox cross to give Brockenhurst a 20th-minute lead against fellow strugglers Portland United, but that was as good as it got for the beleaguered Badgers.

An overhead kick by the predatory David Laws brought the Dorset side back on terms before the break and he grabbed their winner midway through the second half.

"Individual mistakes have cost us," sighed Brock boss Graham Kemp. "We've huffed and puffed with plenty of effort but had no cutting edge."