Crawley could be without their first choice strikers for three games after Dave Stevens and Nic McDonnell were sent off following Tuesday's bad-tempered League Cup tie at Ashford.

Referee Ian Crouch also red-carded Ashford defenders Martin Anderson and James Gardner after a 22 man melee which followed Crawley's 2-1 win.

Crouch has also reported Ashford's chairman-manager Tim Thorogood and assistant boss Gary Anderson, Martin's father.

Stevens was allegedly head-butted in the brawl while trouble spread to the stands as well with one Crawley fan claiming on Ashford's official website that he had been punched in the stomach by a member of Ashford's management team.

Boss Billy Smith said: "The first I knew about it was 30 minutes after the final whistle when Dave (Stevens) came up to the players' bar and told me him and Nic had been sent off.

"I was in our dressing room for 20 minutes after the game and there was no sign of the referee.

"I've never known anything like it in all my years in management. I went to see the referee and he seems to have got information on what happened from his assistant, but when it all went off at the end I saw the assistant talking to one of his mates in the crowd!"

Both clubs are planning an appeal. Crawley's chief executive Steve Duly said: "I find it hard to believe that the officials could have seen who instigated the melee."

Ironically, Stevens had scored both goals as Reds got a timely confidence boost after a run of three successive defeats.

A holiday campaign crucial to Crawley's title aspirations kicks-off at Tiverton tomorrow when both Ellis Hooper and Peter Fear serve one match suspensions. Neil LeBihan (knee) is doubtful and Kevin Hemsley and Stewart Holmes are likely to get starting roles.

Manager George Wakeling is hoping for a change in fortunes as two Hastings United regulars return to the squad for tomorrow's clash at Hednesford.

Tough-tackling midfielder Paul Ruddy and commanding defender Adam Flanagan are both available after suspension.

Wakeling said: "It's nice to have Ruddy and Flanagan back but we will still have three players unavailable - Landry Zahana-Oni, Duncan McArthur and Stuart Myall."

McArthur starts a six-match ban tomorrow but Wakeling hopes United can halt an alarming run of six defeats on the bounce.

He said: "I hope there is light at the end of the tunnel as we were having a great season until five weeks ago when it all fell apart.