Leatherhead boss Richard Brady slammed one of his own men for a “ridiculous” sending off in a “Mickey Mouse” match.

Tanners were making their second visit to Whyteleafe in four days on Tuesday night for a Robert Dyas League Cup second round tie, when Joe Bruce saw red with only seconds of a 2-1 defeat remaining.

Now the defender will miss vital Ryman Premier trips to Harrow Borough, Maidstone United and Kingstonian.

Brady said: “It was a disappointing night all round.

“We normally use fringe player for this competition, and they normally step up to the mark, but not on Tuesday.

“Towards the end I didn’t care if we lost 3-1 or even 4-1, it was just time to get out of there.

“Then Joe’s been caught in the face by a Leafe sub, and it went unpunished, so a few seconds later he took his revenge and elbowed the lad, and the ref has sent him off.

“I told Joe ‘That was one of the most ridiculous things I have ever seen in football, what the hell were you doing?’

“It was a bad night, in a Mickey Mouse cup that is of no benefit to me, and now it’s actually a detriment because I am without an experienced defender for three games.”

There was better news from the Tanners’ weekend trip to Whyteleafe, where a 4-1 win saw them through to a third qualifying round tie at Burgess Hill Town on November 29.

This weekend, Tanners, in 17th, go to Peacehaven & Telscombe, in 11th, in Ryman League action.