EASTLEIGH midfielder Jake Hesketh sees his appeal for a red card for violent conduct awarded versus Weymouth rejected and will serve a three-match ban.

The former Saints product was given his marching orders after he seemingly slapped the hand of the referee, fairly innocuously, after a foul was given against him during their 3-2 win.

The Spitfires appealed the decision with National League rules stating that contact of a referee that is ‘intrusive’ and not ‘aggressive’ is only a yellow card.

The appeal was unsuccessful and the suspension will stand for Hesketh, who has already served a one-match ban for accumulation of five yellow cards this campaign.