TAUNTON Town boss Rob Dray insisted eight-man Harrow Borough "only have themselves to blame" for the "disgusting challenges" which led to three first half red cards in Town's 7-0 win on Saturday.

Mitchal Gough saw red for an apparent headbutt before George Fenton and Anthony O'Connor followed him back to the changing rooms after lunging challenges.

The Peacocks were in clinical mood, making their numerical advantage count with five second half goals to stay five points clear at the top of the table.

Dray said: "It was a bizarre game. I’ve never seen a team have three players sent off in the first 40 minutes.

“The referee was absolutely bang on with all three decisions. You can’t headbutt somebody and then the two challenges were disgusting. These lads have got to go to work on Monday morning.

"You can’t dress it up – those lads have let their club down today and they only have themselves to blame.

“I’ve no idea what they are like as a team. For 20 minutes they looked alright, but you can’t really judge them on 20 minutes, and the second half was just attack versus defence.

“We kept out of it, kept our discipline and kept going. Those goals may come in handy towards the end of the season.

"The message at half-time was to keep going and leave a mark on them. Two words that I’ve been using all season are relentless and ruthless as that’s what wins you titles.

“It wasn’t a niggly game or anything like that, just two bad challenges. We did what we had to do and it’s another one ticked off ahead of two tricky away games."

As well as the three red cards, an action-packed first half also included a goal from inside his own half from Town centre-back Ed Palmer, who took aim from 60 yards and found the top corner.

“Ed’s goal was out of this world," Dray said.

"To do that in these conditions underfoot, with the wind and the rain as well, is frightening. It was unbelievable, what a player. He was brilliant today and did everything right."

Town, who were without Ben Adelsbury and Pierce Mitchell due to sickness as well as Dan Sullivan with a knee injury, are at Hartley Wintney next Saturday.

Harry Gardner will not be with the side as he is spending two weeks in Spain having trials at league clubs.

"His family have a holiday home out there and his Dad made a few phone calls to sort out trials, so we wish him luck," Dray said.

"He'll be back with us for Christmas unless he is offered something."