Impromptu brawl forces abandonment of Banks Beer League encounter

Oct 16, 2008 Sports

Football fans were treated to an action packed boxing match that forced the referee to issue three red cards and the abandonment of the top of the table division one football clash between two West based teams, Western Tigers and Flamingo, last night at the Banks DIH ground, Thirst Park.

The two teams had earlier played to a goalless first half and were engaged in a keen tussle to gain the advantage in the second.

Western Tigers, Devon Millington collected a cross from Paul Joyce but failed to convert. Two minutes later, Western Tiger’s Edison Gomes attacked but his shot was nicely saved by Flamingo’s Lennox Curt.

Western Tigers were enjoying a terrific run and it seemed that no sooner was the ball kicked away from Flamingo’s goal than it was back in that area again.

Five minutes later, the 60th of the game, the persistent Western Tigers’ Millington dribbled the ball from midway of the field, flattened Flamingo’s Errol Squires, seconds before penetrating Flamingo’s ‘keeper,’ Lennox Curt.

Referee Steve Jacobs acknowledged the goal even as the Flamingo team appealed. The players were contending that Millington had purposely dealt Squires a blow to his face.

They felt that the referee should have awarded a free kick to the Flamingo team. The referee refused to recant his decision.

Coach of the Flamingo team, Aubrey Marshall substantiated this version of the story. He said that it was indeed Millington who started the brawl.

He said that after Millington collided with Squires, he returned to agitate the situation resulting in a brawl between the two players.

He said that Millington should have been reprimanded and Flamingo awarded a free kick. Instead, the referee erred by acknowledging the goal even as squires lay writhing on the field. This reporter attempted to solicit a comment from the referee but he had quickly exited the area.

In the meantime, administrators of Banks DIH turned off the floodlights leaving the arena in darkness and leaving the spectators no other choice but to vacate the premises. The matter has since been referred to the executives of the Georgetown Football Association for mediation.