Paulsgrove to appeal debutant Jake Daniels' 'crazy' red card in victory at Chamberlayne

Daniels - making his first appearance for the club after joining from Harvest Home last month - was dismissed less than a minute after being introduced as a half-time substitute in his side's 3-0 victory at the Hampshire Premier League Senior Division strugglers on Saturday.

The referee brandished a red card to the new Paulsgrove addition after what Grant felt was an innocuous coming together with an opposing player.

The Grove boss was one of many surprised by the decision but with league officials attending the fixture, he is hopeful it will be rescinded on appeal.

‘We had league officials there as well and it was the most crazy red card you’ve ever seen,' revealed the bemused Paulsgrove boss.

‘We’ll obviously appeal it because there were league officials there as well.

‘It was a great debut for the Grove.

‘We'll appeal it as soon as it comes through. I'm pretty confident that it’ll get rescinded.’

All three of unbeaten Paulsgrove's goals came in the second half after Daniels’ dismissal.

Zak Willett struck on the hour and 15 minutes from the end to take his tally to 14 goals in nine games this season having arrived from Sunday League football in the summer.

Another summer recruit, Shane Cornish, then rounded off the scoring from the spot five minutes from time.

Grant was just relieved to leave with all three points with it being Grove's first competitive match for a month following the four-week 'non-elite' football suspension.

But the Paulsgrove boss was particularly pleased by the way his side raised their game after the sending off.

Grant added: ‘It really galvanised us (the sending off) and we got the ball down and played a bit more.

‘My lads raised their game by about 15 per cent then.

‘We weren’t at our best.

‘The pitch was horrendous to be fair and I was surprised it got played to be honest. I knew it was going to be a tough one.’

Fifth-placed Paulsgrove have now won eight of their nine league matches this term - drawing the other.

They now face a crucial run before the new year in their next three fixtures as they bid to put down a real title marker.

Grant's side host leaders Bush Hill on Saturday (December 12) before fourth-placed Infinity (December 19) and Fleetlands - in third - (December 28) visit prior to the turn of the year.