Former Worthing hero Alan Cunningham launched an astonishing outburst against the match officials as Solent stunned Thunder in an NBL thriller at the Leisure Centre on Saturday.

The 94-86 reverse was Thunder's second successive defeat and hardly the preparation they wanted for next Sunday's Trophy Final against Teesside.

The main talking point from a fiercely competiaive derby came early in the fourth quarter when the otherwise impressive Cunningham claimed he had been struck by Paul 'Cherry' Mundy-Castle in an innocuous looking challenge under the basket.

Cunningham, who will be 47 next month, furiously pursued the official across the court and had to be physically restrained by his stunned Solent teamates.

Amazingly, he escaped both ejection and a technical foul, though he spent the rest of the match cooling down on the bench and receiving treatment to a cut.

Thunder coach Gary Smith could hardly believe what he had seen. He said: "He's a legend in basketball. Why the hell did he do something like that?"

Scorers - Thunder: Hampton 31, Munday-Castle 17, Moore 15, Addy 11, Vingoe 8, Cheal 2, Brame 2.

Solent: Cunningham 26, Capers 23, Bynum 17, O'Harabe 10, Davison 10.