BOSS Ken Vaughan has leapt to the defence of his Poppies players and maintains their record as the Wessex League bad boys is unwarranted.

Poppies currently prop up the Sydenhams Wessex Premier fair play table having collected no fewer than 66 yellow and eight reds cards this season.

Their tally of bookings is almost double that of first-placed AFC Portchester (38), while rivals Fawley and Horndean have only had one sending off each.

The battle of the two most indisciplined teams in the division saw 11 players booked during Poppies’ 1-1 draw at Follands on Saturday – with Vaughan’s team receiving five yellow cards.

Vaughan told the Daily Echo: “I found it quite amazing because I can’t remember one bad tackle from either side. Our players are being booked for anything and everything.

“All our players like to try to play and there isn’t one cruncher in there. We seem to get players sent off for things you see go unpunished in the Premier League.

“At Moneyfields recently, Dan Molyneaux received a red card after lifting his foot just above the kneecap of a player who was trying to head the ball. It was ridiculous.

“We won the fair play league a few seasons ago when we had people in there who could put it about. We were a physical side then but we certainly aren’t now.

“We fine players if they get booked for dissent and I could probably count on one hand the number of times that has happened this season.”

Eight Poppies players have served suspensions this season, while Vaughan said the appeal process was “impossible” due to the various forms of evidence clubs are asked to provide, include video footage of any incidents.

Vaughan has named an unchanged squad for the visit of Hamworthy United tonight when interim Hammers boss Shane Traynor will be hoping to further boost his chances of earning the job on a permanent basis (7.45pm).

Traynor, who is keen to step up from his position with the club's reserves, presided over a CV-enhancing 2-0 win over Sydenhams Wessex Premier high-fliers Whitchurch on Saturday.

Paddy Hester, Stefan Penny, Russell Cook and Billy Walker all return to the Hammers squad as they bid to complete the double over Poppies at Victoria Park.

  • Boss Charlie Pierson faces a tricky selection dilemma ahead of Ringwood's Sydenhams Wessex League Cup quarter-final against Bemerton tonight (7.45pm).

Goalkeeper Adam Morgan is in contention after recovering from a shoulder injury and is expected to vie with Nick Iles for a place against the Harlequins at Western Way.

Meanwhile, Verwood will be looking to build on their morale-boosting win over Blackfield & Langley on Saturday when they travel to Moneyfields in Wessex Premier (7.45pm).