Ollie Adedeji and Mark Graham have been suspended indefinitely by Aldershot Town after the incident that shamed the club at Billericay on Saturday.

The team-mates were sent off for fighting after just 28 minutes, leaving Aldershot to fight a lost cause with nine men.

The pair have also been fined the maximum two weeks' wages as caretaker manager Stuart Cash handed out a punishment he considered fitted the crime.

"I'm embarrassed to be Aldershot Town's manager at this moment," said the well-travelled Cash after the game in Essex. "I've never seen anything like that in all the time I've been involved with football."

What caused the red mist to descend upon the two players is not clear.

Graham appeared to lose the ball, after which a war of words developed between the two. It evolved into shoving, an exchange of head-butts and a swinging punch from the burly Adedeji before they were separated by players on both sides.

Referee Tony Gurr had no option but to dismiss both players, leaving Cash to reorganise his depleted side in an attempt to salvage something from the wreckage.

Having spoken to players who witnessed the brawl and consulted his board of directors, Cash announced his decision on Tuesday.

"It's my decision and they have the right to appeal," said Cash, who insisted there had been no previous bad feeling between the players. Neither was there any suggestion of racial abuse.

"They've accepted it and want to apologise to the club, directors and their fellow players whom they let down so badly. I'm not going to slag them off in public, hang them out to dry, because, despite everything, they are two nice people. But neither will accept the blame – they blame each other."

The fact that the behaviour of Graham and Adedeji was completely out of character is a kick in the teeth for Cash who is working hard to make his caretaker role a permanent one.

"I could have done without it. We need to strengthen and now this happens," he said ruefully after the courageous disciplinary action that probably costs him two of his best players for the rest of the season.

But he was full of praise for the nine players, plus three substitutes, who battled gamely on at Billericay. "I told them they could hold their heads high after giving it everything."

Although Billericay were already in front when the fracas took place, all the signs were that it would be a close contest.

Aldershot began with a sustained spell of pressure and almost took the lead when Stafford Browne, a former Billericay player, hit the top of the bar with a dipping drive.

Jason Chewins and Lee Holsgrove also went close before Billericay hit back with the opener on 21 minutes. KK Opara fed the ball through to Joe Baker who cut inside Owen Coll and slotted home for his ninth goal of the season.

Aldershot, despite sacrificing striker Grant Payne in the tactical re-organisation, gave as good as they got, with Paul Harford and Holsgrove driving them on from midfield.

Billericay, predictably, had more of the ball and Opara, having fluffed one sitter, brought an excellent save from Gareth Howells.

The Essex side, for all their attacking, lacked imagination in the second half and it was Aldershot who nearly snatched an equaliser, the ball being cleared off the line after Owen Coll's long throw-in had caused a goalmouth scramble.

It was right on 90 minutes when Billericay finally wrapped up the points, Baker finishing clinically after running clear from halfway.

However, the game ended on a sour note for Billericay. Opara, having already been booked, was shown a red card after foolishly failing to retreat at a free-kick.

George Borg, Aldershot's manager up to a month ago, watched the game in his new role as Billericay coach.

Aldershot: Howells, Parker (Watson 71 mins), Chewins (Gell 82 mins), Kirgy, Coll Adedeji, Graham, Harford, Browne, Payne (Protheroe 30 mins), Holsgrove.

Billericay: King, Cole, Opinel, Woolsey (Snowsill 65 mins), Moore, Carthy, Baker, L Williams, Dickinson, Opara, Henty. Subs (not used) Savidge, Morris.

Attendance: 1,052.