STEVE Hollick believes more consideration should have been given to the slippery conditions after AFC Totton had two players sent off in an ill-deserved 2-0 Southern One South & West defeat at promotion-chasing Swindon Supermarine.

While the manager’s overriding feeling after the match was pride in how well his team had performed, he was upset at having young Jake Burgess dismissed for two “laughable” yellow cards and Eastleigh loanee Jack Alexander shown a straight red late on.

“The pitch was heavy and I was surprised that the game was on,” he said.

“In those conditions, players were going to be sliding everywhere and Jake’s second yellow was ridiculous. He slid in and won the ball.

“Young Jake hasn’t got a bad tackle in him.

“Then Jack Alexander’s been sent off in the 93rd minute and there was nothing wrong with that either. His foot wasn’t up, but he’s got a straight red.

“People were struggling to stay on their feet but the conditions weren't taken into account.”

Boosted by Mike Gosney’s return from injury, Totton had an excellent first half and so nearly took the lead on 13 minutes when Marc Diaper’s shot ricocheted into the path of Tony Rolls whose effort was pushed round the post by Marine ’keeper Matt Bulman.

But it was Swindon who made the breakthrough in the 58th minute when Ashley Edenborough latched onto a long ball over the top and buried his 100th goal in club colours.

Totton 'keeper Steve Mowthorpe did well to keep out Edenborough and Josh Morse before Swindon struck again on 66 minutes when Morse set up Bradley Gray to find the bottom corner.

Despite Burgess’s 76th-minute exit, ten-man Totton so nearly pulled one back through Nathaniel Sherborne whose shot rebounded off the foot of the post.

Alexander’s stoppage-time red card was the final slap in the face for the Stags who deserved so much more for their afternoon's endeavours.

“We went toe-to-toe with Swindon today and gave them a really good game,” said Hollick.

“Neil Williams, in particular, was superb in the centre of the park. He was the best player on the pitch.

“Neil’s a bit of an unsung hero. He gets through work really effectively and they struggled to pick him up.

“The result is difficult to take because we deserved to get something from the game.”

Weather permitting, Totton return to action on Tuesday night (7.45pm) at home to Winchester City in the Red Insure Cup second round.