EIGHT players were sin binned in an ugly, ill-tempered affair as Hamble lost 6-3 to Slough and dipped out on a South Regional League promotion slot.

Hamble had high hopes of joining Trojans in South Premier League, Division 2 next season after routing Maidstone 5-1 in their 'runners-up' semi-final - and then taking the lead after just 27 seconds against Slough in the play-off final.

But it all went horribly wrong in the second half at Haslemere's stunning Woolmer Hill complex as Hamble lost their self-discipline.

Reduced to eight men at one stage, they allowed a 2-1 interval advantage to disintegrate - the result allowing Slough to cling on to their Premier 2 status next term.

"I don't think anything could have prepared our boys for what happened. It was shameful," said Hamble manager Chris Marsh.

Hamble will stay in the Hampshire/Surrey League, with Southampton relegated after just one season at regional level.

Yet it all began so brightly for Hamble as Egyptian Olympic star Hamoza waltzed unchallenged into the Slough D and sent a vicious reverse-stick shot past goalkeeper Dave Tilley inside the opening 30 seconds.

It appeared as though Hamble's pace up front might be too much for a skillful yet ponderous Slough side and, even though Nijhar equalised from a bungled penalty corner, the Hampshire team looked better equipped.

Ezz, enjoying space, restored Hamble's lead and then found himself denied as Tilley pulled off fine saves from consecutive penalty corners.

Tempers were already frayed as umpires Steve Godwin and Jon Molloy endeavoured to keep the match under control - Slough's Mansoor Ahmed collecting the first of the surfeit of yellow cards before play was stopped to enable the teams to calm down.

Hamble's chances of winning clearly hinged on them being able to keep their cool in difficult circumstances.

They didn't and when Ali, whose skills were to play a lead part the eventual outcome, equalised straight after half-time, the red mist decended.

Along with Slough's Ahmed, Ali McColl, Dave Kelly and Hamoza were all sin-binned in quick succession - leaving Hamble with only seven outfield players!

It was certainly an interesting 'education' lesson for the watching Trojans players, who will face Slough in England Hockey's Harrod Trophy final next month.

When Ali put Slough ahead for the first time from a penalty stroke, the writing was on the wall for Hamble.

With McColl and Kelly reinstated but still down to ten men, Hamble hit back to level at 3-3 - Ezz converting a penalty after he had been illegally stick tackled.

Back came Slough with Raja carving through the Hamble midfield to set up Ajay Davatwal for their fourth.

It was real end-to-end stuff but, as Slough argued, disputed and generally broke up the play, Hamble's tempers became even more frayed.

The players became involved in an ungainly 12-player melee before Nijkar made it 5-3 for Slough.

Hamble's fuse blew, with Kelly and Hamoza (who spent nearly one-third of the match in the cooler), sin-binned again and Slough's Mudu Dhanjal joining them on the sidelines.

Minutes before the end, Raja's slick stickwork was rewarded with a sixth for Slough.

"We let Slough's appalling behaviour get the better of us and regrettably some of our players lost their discipline as a result," Marsh said.

"This ultimately cost us the match and, with it, promotion. Hopefully we shall learn from this painful experience.

Marsh said he was glad some of the Trojans team - who won the Regional League championship - watched events unfold.

"Having been at Haslemere, they now know what kind of challenge awaits them next month. If they can keep their discipline, I am confident they will win," he said.

Hamble play their Hampshire Cup semi-final against City of Portsmouth at Burnaby Road tomorrow evening, 7.30pm.