Bashley manager Barry Blankley had made a vow to himself not to criticise officials - but he couldn't help himself after seeing yesterday's 0-0 Eastern Division derby draw with Dorchester ruined by the man in black.

Referee Paul Brown of Taunton flashed the yellow card no fewer than nine times - four of them resulting in the dismissals of Bashley's Dave Wakefield for dissent and alleged elbowing and Magpies' defender Andy Harris for two offences on Craig Anstey.

Although neither side behaved like choirboys, it was a far from bad-tempered affair and Blankley said: "There were two good sides out there, but the officials were absolutely terrible and didn't let anything flow, which was a great shame.

"You expect some blood and thunder in a local derby, but although this was a bit niggly there was nothing out of order and it's a shame that someone like that was put in charge of such an important game.

"Dave Wakefield has never been booked in his life and yet he ended up getting sent off."

With Bash striker Paul Sales again sidelined by groin trouble, his young understudy Stuart Cooper's attempted lob was tipped over at full stretch by Magpies keeper Mark Ormerod after 12 minutes.

The remainder of the half was scrappy, but Dorchester missed two dream chances before the break with Matt Groves failing to connect with Matt Hann's flick from Justin Keeler's tenacious cross and then Matt Lonnon heading wide after keeper Steve Staples had missed Matty Holmes's corner.

Wakefield's 61st-minute dismissal was followed six minutes later by a red for Harris.

The frenetic pace dropped late on as both teams tried to protect what they'd got, but Bash so nearly won it when substitute Ben Thomson squared for Stuart Hussey who forced another fine save from Ormerod.

Havant & Waterlooville were desperate to prove their critics wrong yesterday, but the afternoon ended in the disappointment of a 0-0 home stalemate with Hastings.

Hawks, third in the Premier Division last season, went into the match with just one point banked from a possible nine and some criticism ringing in their ears from disgruntled chairman Derek Pope.

They responded by upping their level of performance from Saturday's 3-1 collapse at Tiverton, but still lacked a cutting edge.

With new signing Warren Haughton injured, Hawks played three up front - James Taylor, Jamie O'Rourke and Paul Wood - but never seriously threatened.

Recalled midfielder Neil Davis forced a couple of saves and Bobby Howe hit a free kick just over.

Co-manager Mick Jenkins reflected: "We murdered Hastings possession-wise and peppered their box with some decent crosses, but there was no real thrust.

"Even so, it was a big improvement. We worked harder, defended well and kept a clean sheet."

Referring to Pope's criticism in the local press, Jenkins admitted: "It hurt a bit and we would like to have given him an answer today, but it wasn't to be.

"One or two people are getting panicky, but no one said it was going to be easy and the league is not won or lost in the first four or five games.

"It's important now that we stick together and work even harder."

Tonight's Eastern Division trip to Newport will bring back happy memories for Salisbury City manager Nick Holmes.

It was after a match to mark the opening of the Island club's floodlights that Holmes - then a Saint - met his wife, Carolyn.

He said: "I've got many friends over there and hopefully they'll come along tonight and support us. I don't know too much about Newport, only that they're playing with a quite a few kids like we are."

Whites will again be without defender Roger Emms. The long-serving centre-back is seeing a consultant this week about a persistent heel problem.

Newport have four injury worries - Steve Riley, Paul Morby, Simon Pilcher and Leigh Cole - all with twisted ankles.

Problems are piling up for Fleet for tonight's Eastern Division showdown at home to Fisher.

Injured striker Mark Frampton and player-manager Steve Beeks could be sidelined for a fortnight, while master marksman Ian Mancey is out for two months through holiday and suspension.