BEMUSED Redditch United boss Paul Smith was still trying to come to terms this week with just how his side managed to salvage a 1-1 draw with St Neots Town despite being reduced to eight players.

Reds had three players sent off during the game and Smith didn't hold back in his assessment afterwards when he claimed:

"I've never known anything like it!

"I'm reluctant to criticize officials, but we had a really young referee who was being assessed and I just feel the situation got the better of him.

"He gave a yellow card very early in the game and that set the standard.

" The referee dished out 11 yellow cards in total and It got to the point where the game descended into farce and I only hope the referee will learn from it because he was completely out of his depth.

"I don't want to berate the referee - because we all make mistakes. Let's just say the game could have been handled better.

"We've got to take massive positives out of it, because even when we went down to eight players, we were still the better side!

Reds had fallen behind to a fourth minute Gary Wharton goal but were then reduced to 10 men shortly before half time when Richard Batchelor received his marching orders.

Michael McGrath followed after picking up two yellow cards on 70 minutes, followed off 10 minutes later by James Bowen.

But that didn't stop Robbie Bunn from rattling home a sensational stoppage time equaliser.

Smith revealed: "The players asked me what formation to play after we went down to eight. I told them two banks of two and three up front - I never, ever thought I'd be saying something like that! I think I've pioneered a new formation".

However, there was a downside to Bunn's late leveller as he scored with his left foot which cost the Reds boss another £75 into the player's Benidorm kitty.

Smith will meet with his staff this week to see if he can appeal against any of the red cards, otherwise they will be missing Batchelor, McGrath and Bowen for Saturday's trip to Royston Town.

Busy Smith will respond by bringing in new signing Josh Hawker from Rushall Olympic while Harry Franklin will return to the ranks.

But George Washbourne has decided to return to former club Coleshill Town and Smith confirmed: "It didnt' really work out for him but I wish George all the best for the future".