CHRISTMAS is traditionally a time for receiving cards but James Bittner was not feeling festive after being given a red one for the second time in six days.

The 21-year-old former Swindon Town trainee and Chippenham Town goalkeeper had been sent off for a professional foul on Boxing Day for Exeter City against Hereford United. He was given his marching orders again on New Year's day for deliberate handball in the reverse fixture at Exeter.

The two early baths were the first in his career. The keeper, who lives in Devizes, said: "It was unbelievable to be sent off against the same team twice in the space of a few days.

"I've already had a lot of abuse from my mates because it's been in the local Exeter paper and some of the nationals as well."

The goalkeeper held his hands up to the red-card from Boxing Day and picked up a one-match ban.

But both he and his manager Eamonn Dolan were furious with the officials' decision to send him off on New Year's Day. "I've seen the video of the incident twice and it clearly shows I caught the ball inside my area," added Bittner.

"The linesman was well behind the play but said he flagged against me because I looked across at him when I caught the ball. No one can believe it and the club made an appeal against the sending off the next day.

"Although I should have the card rescinded the damage has already been done because we were down to ten men for half the game and they scored from the resulting free-kick which should never have been given anyway."

Conference side Exeter went on to lose Thursday's game 1-0 with Hereford's Daniel Williams converting the free-kick awarded following Bittner's dismissal.

Bittner joined Exeter after his contract at Chippenham Town expired in the summer.

Now the keeper, who is bidding to play for the England semi-professional side against Italy in February, is hoping to steer clear of referees.

Exeter are to play Hereford for the third time in a month in the FA Trophy on Saturday but Bittner will sit the game out because of his original suspension. He said: "Getting sent off against them for a third time would have been too much! They say bad luck comes in threes but hopefully I've had all three now what with my two red-cards and an injury I suffered in the first Hereford game."

HE'S OFF: James Bittner sees red against Hereford on New Year's day