Stanway Rovers player-manager Steve Ball could be facing a hefty ban after being sent off for the seventh time in his career.

The former Arsenal and U's midfielder was red-carded after a tirade at the referee as Rovers' visitors Wisbech Reserves snatched a crucial equaliser as their Jewson League division one match entered the seventh minute of injury time.

Ball said: "I just saw red and I still fail to see where the referee got all that extra time from. Wisbech's equaliser was the last straw and I told the ref so in no uncertain terms. He promptly sent me off and blew the final whistle moments later.

"I don't think my club is too impressed with me and I apologise to them. I know it was wrong of me to swear at the ref, but the passion of the moment just got the better of me.

"But any manager would get wound up when his opponents score a vital goal, especially in the dying seconds of injury time. That's the seventh time I've been sent-off now and I will probably have to serve a hefty ban."

The game finished as a 2-2 draw and Ball said: "The only positive thing that came out of it was the fact the result keeps our unbeaten run going, but after what happened it feels like a defeat."

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