Bracknell Town FC learn Floodlit Cup fate after Highmoor abandonment

Back at the end of October Bracknell Town’s Floodlit Cup tie at Highmoor Ibis was abandoned by the referee with 13 minutes remaining, shortly after showing a red card to an Ibis player. The match on 30th October was called off with the score at 0-0.

The Reading Chronicle reported at the time that: “It is understood referee Keith Kennett feared for his safety after sending off Ibe Bangura and then being approached by Highmoor players, having previously booked six of them mostly for dissent.”

Now, after nearly a month and a half the Hellenic League have confirmed the outcome of disciplinary proceedings which concluded that Bracknell Town have been awarded the tie and Highmoor removed from the competition.

A statement on the Hellenic League website reads: “Following the abandonment of this match an investigation of the circumstances that caused the early curtailment were investigated by the Uhlsport Hellenic League Management Executive.

“The Uhlsport Hellenic League are advised that charges were issued to two Highmoor-Ibis players only and that the club were not disputing the charges.

“Given the circumstances the League Executive have made a decision to exclude Highmoor-Ibis from the Perpetua Press Floodlit Challenge Cup competition for season 2017-2018, as it is accepted that Highmoor-Ibis player/s were wholly responsible for causing the abandonment of the match.

“Bracknell Town will now play in the 3rd Round tie to be played at Didcot Town FC. Highmoor-Ibis has the right of appeal to the FA if they do not accept this decision.”

The following week, Bracknell hosted Ibis at Larges Lane in the Hellenic Premier Division winning 7-0 thanks to a TJ Bohane hat trick and a double each from Seb Bowerman and Adam Cornell.