GARY Hooper's last-minute winner at Exeter City ensured GRAYS leapfrogged their visitors and returned to the top of the Conference table last weekend, but the win came at a price with Jamie Stuart's controversial red card ruling him out for the next three games starting with their trip to Stevenage on Saturday.

Stuart was sent off for clashing with City's Lee Phillips at the half-time interval at St James' Park and after both men had protested their innocence Blues boss, Mark Stimson, had hoped that referee, Andy Sainsbury, would look at the video evidence from the game and rescind the decision.

But the TV footage proved inconclusive and Mr Sainsbury has upheld his decision meaning that Stuart will now miss tomorrow's game with Stevenage, next week's massive FA Cup fixture against Mansfield Town and the league encounter with Altrincham.

Monday's Essex Senior Cup game against Bowers and Pitsea does not count for league suspensions.

Stimson said: "It's a major blow. We managed to get hold of two tapes of the game but both followed the ref as he went off at half time and missed the incident completely.

"Stuart will now miss Stevenage and probably the biggest game of our season at Mansfield and he's the one player we didn't want to lose, both on the pitch and off it."

Stuart's suspension is compounded by the fact that his regular centre-back partner, Stevland Angus, is struggling to be fit for tomorrow's game after he missed the Exeter game with a damaged ankle.

This leaves Lee Matthews and Ade Olayinka as Grays' only recognised centre-halves, which has left Stimson busy scrambling around to bring someone in on loan as cover.

Stimson says that tomorrow's game at Stevenage, who are unbeaten at home all season, will be another big test for his young side.

"Stevenage are a good side who are capable of going all the way and will be disappointed if they don't. They've got a great squad with a lot of quality and the boys will have to put in another big, big performance."