CALUM Brockway’s third-minute dismissal left Folland Sports with a mountain to climb at home to Bemerton Heath Harlequins on Saturday.

Defender Brockway was shown a straight red for instinctively lifting his hand and tipping a goalbound shot over the bar and, although Bemerton missed the resulting penalty, the visitors went in 2-0 up at the break.

The introduction of Paul Olawuni had an instant impact for Follands. The substitute ran past four players down the right before crossing for Ryan Long to convert.

But Bemerton – who scored through Jack Eves (2) and Scott Joyce – struck again for 3-1 before the tricky Olawuni was brought down for a penalty which Long converted for 3-2.

Follands assistant boss Dave Lewis said: “It was an uphill battle, but I felt we had the lion’s share of the game performance-wise, we just weren’t clinical enough in front of goal – that was the difference between the sides.

“Considering we played 87 minutes, plus stoppage time, with ten men, I thought we were outstanding.

“It shows a lot of character at this stage of the season to keep going like we did playing a man down.

“We’re looking to take something out of the result and what I take from it is that we won the second half 2-1.”

Follands were still without first-choice goalkeeper Ryan Gosney, who has broken down again with a thigh injury and is unlikely to play again this season.

Bemerton head for Horndean tonight for a Russell Cotes Cup semi-final which pits the winners against Blackfield & Langley.

The Deans are in good heart having halted Lymington Town’s six- match winning streak 1-0 on Saturday.

Hosts Lymington had Darren Ritchie sent off and Nathan Paxton grabbed the deciding goal for the visitors after Robbie Pittman had missed a penalty.

The result drops Lymington to sixth.