Defender's losing streak

This wasn't the streaker

A footballer has been sent off in a cup final after having a go at a streaker.

Witton Albion defender Brian Pritchard brought down the naked man when he ran on to the pitch, but was rewarded for his efforts with an early bath.

The incident happened during the Unibond Cheshire Senior Cup Final between Witton and Woodley Sports at Altrincham's Moss Lane ground.

Play was interrupted on the hour when the streaker made his move.

Pritchard, whose team were losing 1-0 at the time, immediately intervened, but in the eyes of the referee his actions brought the game into disrepute and he was shown the red card.

The streaker, meanwhile, made good his escape back into the crowd, following a cheeky shimmy past stewards.

A Witton spokesman said: "The man's mates in the crowd threw his clothes to him and we have no idea what happened to him after that.

"Our man was sent off. Nobody knows why and we are appealing to the Football Association on the grounds of unfair dismissal."

This wasn't the streaker either

Ten-man Witton went on to lose the game 2-1 and fans immediately vented their fury.

One said: "The only person who has brought the game into disrepute is the ref. He should be shown the red card himself.

Woodley Sports supporters predictably saw the funny side, with one wag writing on a website: "The only tackle you made all night was on that streaker."

A spokesman for Altrincham added: "We provided stewards for the match but they would have needed the speed of Thierry Henry to catch that streaker, he was that quick."