The Division 1 derby clash between Winchester City and Winchester Castle was sensationally abandoned yesterday - when City ran out of players!

Referee Colin Hopkins had to call a halt to proceedings on 72 minutes after red-carding three City players and seeing another two taken off with serious injuries.

The game couldn't continue because a team must consist of a minimum of seven players and the home club had used all their substitutes.

Winchester Castle also had a player sent off and six players were cautioned, but both club secretaries agreed that it wasn't a dirty match.

City secretary Dave Rattey said: "It just was not a nasty game although I think the club could be in trouble because the referee said he was going to report us because the crowd had a real go at him at half-time."

Alan Rutter, the Castle secretary, confirmed: "I've seen worse than that in games and nothing has happened. The referee set his stall out early and then had to follow it through."

City's Darren Turner and Castle's Ryan Cross saw red after 27 minutes following an off-the-ball clash and the home side's Mark Daubney also went in first-half stoppage time for allegedly swearing at the Andover referee.

John Vowles became the fourth player to be sent off for a second bookable offence on 67 minutes and the game was abandoned minutes later as Stuart Finlay (concussion) and Paul Nelson were lost to injury.

Earlier, Matt Owen had given Castle a dream start with a goal after 20 seconds and he added another before the break. Further efforts by Jason Ahmet (49) and Paul Warren (53) gave the unbeaten leaders a 4-0 lead before the premature end.

Hampshire League chairman Geoff Cox was at the game and said that the matter will probably be dealt with at their February meeting.