Guilsfield 2 Gresford Athletic 1

match abandoned

A NIGHT of shame at Park Hall ended with Gresford Athletic being reduced to seven men before their manager ordered their late walk off.

Despite leading through Mike Latham the Wrexham side were soon reduced to 10 men with Tom Freeman earning two bookings in quick succession.

Owen Roberts then saw red for dissent before Gresford manager Steve Halliwell was sent to the stands at the break, after comments made to referee Huw Jones.

The Guils capitalised on their numerical advantage with Andy Ford levelling on the hour.

Guilsfield dominated the second-half but a resolute Gresford looked to have escaped with a point before Ford’s knock down was converted by Stuart Rogers at the death.

In the aftermath Josh Griffiths and Max Peate both saw red for dissent, before Haliwell emerged from the stands to order his side off the pitch.

Guilsfield manager Nathan Leonard insisted the result should stand and said Gresford should be punished.

“It was a shame,” he said. “They played well with a full team. “I did not hear what was said but this is embarrassing for the league.”

However Halliwell defended his decision to order the walk off and said: “I’ve never seen anything like it in football, it was a complete farce.”

GUILSFIELD: Wycherley, Bromley, Richards, Rogers, Litchfield, James, Cook, Ford, Jenkins, Jones (Barton), Cathrall. Subs: Weetman, Leonard, Andrew.