SHARPNESS have been awarded the points from their Gloucestershire County League clash with FC Barometrics on Saturday which ended in chaos midway through the second-half.

The match was tied at 3-3 when the game was abandoned on 71 minutes after a fifth FC Barometrics man was sent off by referee Anthony Smee.

Incredibly, Barometrics, who were fifth in the table before kick-off, were 3-0 on league leaders Sharpness when their first player saw red.

Jamie Hammond was sent off for two yellow cards which were both for dissent. That happened in the first-half but another four followed in the next 26 minutes of the second period.

Sharpness pulled two goals back before Barometrics’ Joe Morgan and Andy Varnam, the latter having scored two of his side’s goals in the first period, were shown red cards for fighting.

And Barometrics were reduced to seven men when Nick Hill was dismissed for a challenge on a Sharpness player.

The home side equalised just after the hour but referee Smee had enough when the fifth dismissal happened.

The Gloucestershire Northern Senior League committee met on Monday night to discuss the chaotic match and decide whether or not it should be replayed.

However, they have now decided to award Sharpness the victory which takes them four points clear of second-placed Stonehouse Town in the fight for the league title that should go down to the wire when the teams meet each other for a winner-takes-all contest on Tuesday May 3.

David Purser, the Gloucestershire Football Association representative on the Gloucestershire Northern Senior League committee, confirmed the decision to give Sharpness the points but said: “I have been the GFA representative on the Northern Senior League for many years and I have never heard of five sendings off in one game before. In fact, nothing has ever been near it.

“It is a sad state of affairs when this happens.”

Barometrics manager Andy Rhodes was, allegedly, outraged by the referee’s performance, with Mr Smee due to submit a report to the GFA’s disciplinary committee.

Purser added: “I cannot comment on the referee’s performance. The referee will submit his findings and then it’s up to the GFA to take it further. We (the Gloucestershire Northern Senior League committee) have made our decision and that is it.”

Meanwhile, Stonehouse Town need only to finish second in order to win promotion to the Gloucestershire County League next season.

Even if Sharpness win the division, Stonehouse will go up, if they are second, as they have applied to join the higher tier of the county game where Sharpness have not.

Sharpness returned to action on Tuesday night when they played Avonvale United and have a third game in a week on Saturday when they take on Taverners at home before a derby on April 30 against Dursley Town, followed by that big clash with Stonehouse Town.