FORMER Eastleigh defender Ashley Vickers was left in a state of shock after he was bizarrely sent off at Havant & Waterlooville last night - for tackling a mankini-wearing streaker.

With the Blue Square Bet South encounter poised at 1-1 at Westleigh Park, the streaker ran onto to the pitch and managed to evade the pursuing stewards.

Dorchester player-manager Vickers took matters into his own hands - quite literally - and halted the intruder, only to see red for his 70th-minute intervention.

Vickers was one of three Magpies sent off, along with Jake Smeeton and ex-Saint Kyle Critchell, and such was the stir his dismissal caused, that the referee removed Town's assistant manager Phil Simpkin and assistant kitman Dan Fuge from the dugout for their protests.

Vickers, whose side lost 3-1, said the decision to dismiss him "beggared belief".

The 39-year-old admitted: "I'm dumbfounded and speechless.

"A guy ran on to the pitch without any of the stewards getting near him and I thought I was doing them a favour.

"My only thought was to get hold him so we could get on with the game.

"I managed to grab him and bring him to the ground and the funny thing was the stewards actually thanked me for it.

"But the ref decided to send me off and it beggars belief.

"Their players told the ref not to send me off and their chairman even offered to take a player off to even things up.

"The ref lost the game after that and he knew he had made a great error by the reaction of Havant's players and management.

"In hindsight I perhaps shouldn't have done it, but hindsight is a wonderful thing. I'm sure people will crucify me for this but I have broad shoulders."

Smeeton was sent off late in the game for body checking Havant's Guiseppe Sole and Critchell followed for protesting in the aftermath.