First reported by Bedford Independent Mystery surrounds one remaining FA Trophy First Round tie after the shock 90th minute abandonment coming on Saturday afternoon.
Confusion reigned on that very evening as hosts Bedford Town saw their game seemingly abandoned in the final minute, with Potters Bar leading 1-0 at the time of the decision.
A heated affair looked to have been settled with by a 2nd minute Potters Bar goal from Ben Ward-Cochrane but with the clock ticking down, the whistle blew early and the referee walked off.
The referee blows the whistle early and then all hell breaks loose as everyone is on the pitch. The referee has stated that he has abandoned the match. We don’t know much more, but as soon as we know, we’ll tell you. #btvpb
— 🦅 Bedford Town Football Club 🦅 (@BedfordTown) November 13, 2021
Charley Sanders was given marching orders from the referee after picking up two bookable offences, whilst both sides were issued numerous yellow cards.
Then the pitch flooded with players and coaching staff, with comments from fans on social media branding what they saw as “disgraceful”.
Since then, there has not yet been any official confirmation of what will happen next. Does it get replayed? Will the team who was winning advance? The draw was made and yet both sides were named in it.
At 8:45pm on Saturday, Bedford Town released a statement:
“Bedford Town Football Club would like to sincerely apologise to any spectators who were disappointed with the incidents that took place in today’s FA Trophy match which resulted in the match being abandoned.”
“The events which occurred, involving a number of players and team officials from both ourselves and Potters Bar Town in the dying minutes of the match were unacceptable and do not represent the ethos of our club.”
“The club continue to speak with individuals from both clubs to establish more information on the events of the later stages of the fixture.”
“We are also liaising with the FA with regards [to] any evidence they need in response to the abandonment of the game.”
“At this time, Bedford Town FC are unable to confirm what the result will be following the abandonment of the match with regards to the tie being replayed or standing as a 1-0 defeat.”
Potters Bar Town have also briefly commented on the bizarre scenes at The Eyrie, echoing Bedford Town’s disappointments.
“Both clubs are extremely disappointed at this incident arising in what had been a good cup tie.”
“We now await the referee’s report and explanation and also the FA’s decision on the outcome of this match.”
Potters Bar Town manager Lee O’Leary said the scenes which caused their match at Bedford Town to be abandoned with just two minutes to go were “distasteful”.
He said: “The game got abandoned after a brawl at the end which the referee didn’t want any part of.
“He didn’t send anybody off, he didn’t book anyone, he just blew the whistle and abandoned the game and that was it.
“I don’t want to say we didn’t play our part in the game being abandoned because it takes two to tango but the scenes at the end were pretty distasteful.
“It wasn’t nice at all.
“We’ve got some young lads in our side and they are a big, strong, physical side. It is not an easy place to go.
“But we played really well in the first half and the game should have been dead and buried.
“We played our football in the first half, we carved through and just didn’t make the right decisions in the final third.
“We knew it would be tough and they came out positive and on the front foot and got in our faces.
“As the game went on they were getting frustrated because they hadn’t scored and we had a couple of chances on the counter, which we should have taken.”
The problems began when Jaden Sharman was fouled in front of the dugout and asked for treatment for an injury, which the referee blew to allow.
O’Leary said: “As he was so close to the byline, he just shifted himself inside.
“Their players came over because they wanted to take a quick throw-in and they manhandled him off the pitch.
“And it all started from there. They all piled in and our boys are trying to stick up for each other and as it was near our dug-out, us as a management team were trying to defuse it and get players away.
“But every time we did that, something else would happen and it just went on.
“We had no reason to want to get involved. We were 1-0 up in the 93rd minute and were just trying to get out of there [with the win].
“Some of our younger lads showed a bit of naivety by reacting to what was going on.
“It was just ugly scenes. There was grown adults swearing in front of kids and it wasn’t nice at all.”
Will the judgement from the FA see one or both teams out or having the match replayed from scratch.
O’Leary added: “They’ll surely need more evidence than they’ll get to say we were the cause though?
“Both clubs will get fines for not controlling their players but I can’t see them chucking both of us out.
“I’ll feel hard-done by if that is what happens.
“Hopefully it doesn’t.”
Fans reacted as mystery surrounds the FA Trophy tie after the shock 90th minute abandonment…
@robbies98135649: The referee was a disgrace yesterday afternoon allowing that to happen and not doing anything about it. One of the best games I have seen from Bedford. The football was excellent but couldn’t put the ball in the back of the net. Forget about this and lets love on together
@MrGrahamJones: A brilliant game of football totally ruined by a weak ref scared/unable to take charge and make decisions. An early goal, missed penalty, countless chances, the goalie beating the full back to put in a cross and a mass brawl at the end. Proper football. 😂
@IslingtonDon: 22 players, plus benches, throwing their toys out of the pram. Referee had enough, after earlier similar incident; despite their only being a couple of minutes left. @BedfordTown and @pbtfc should both be ashamed of their behaviour.
@slapehtfonaf1on: very disappointing finish but i think they won’t replay
@LucaNaccaratoHW: I think potters bar will awarded with a technical victory cuz the tie hasn’t finished and they can’t confirm the 0-1 without playing a single minute gave by the ref in the injury time
@Arsenalfanblog: No mention of the Bedford assistant manager / coach trying to bite the PB Town manager & grabbing his nether regions. The referee was a disgrace to not manage that scenario with 2 mins to go. Stinks of something corrupt to me. Over 400 people paid to see that game. Disgusting. Oh, and the Bedford manager throwing haymakers and fans running on the pitch… what a lovely experience that was today!
@ianrobo1: Typical some fans replying to this blame the ref … no wonder few want to do it
@paulsalisbury4: Disgraceful scenes!
@Craig10Wilson: Agreed – would be good to see some sort of apology (from both teams) to the kids that witnessed that craziness. @BedfordTown these kids look up to these players – food for thought…
@Imac65: Lots of sh*thousery went on during that second half with nearly everything missed by the ref’!
@PaulJ9: Sounds like both teams need to be kicked out of the competition
@ItsMeTomC: Takes a brave referee to abandon a game in the 90th minute at 1-0… Wonder what’s occurred…
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