Dover Athletic suffered their third abandoned match of the season on Saturday as their Blue Square Bet South game at Havant & Waterlooville was called off after 62 minutes because of a waterlogged pitch.

Whites were losing 1-0 at the time and had also been reduced to nine men after midfield duo Steve Thomson and Lloyd Harrington (pictured) were both sent off.

Substitute Thomson was dismissed for a 58th-minute challenge on Perry Ryan, who was also red carded for retaliating, and then Harrington – who had earlier been booked – received a second yellow card for throwing a punch in the fracas that followed the Thomson tackle.

Havant had taken the lead through Ollie Palmer after 20 minutes on a pitch which was already becoming unplayable because of heavy rain and referee Richard Holme finally called a halt 17 minutes into the second half after consulting both managers.

The match will be replayed on Tuesday night, subject to a pitch inspection.