Ugle Fabrications La Fiamma league game abandoned after Alkimos see red

For a good 40 minutes, there was some soccer played at Salvatore Scuitio Stadium on Saturday night with the Reds locked in a tough battle with league leaders Alkimos.

With most of the Reds side having not played in more than three weeks and Alkimos having not lost a game, scoring four or more goals in three of their four games, it was always going to be a tough night.

But with the Reds were holding their own it was a physical and fiery match with referee Selina Kiddle kept busy before farcical scenes brought an early close to the night.

Reds captain Lachlan Gray brought down an Alkimos defender in a late challenge right in front of the Alkimos bench.

As Gray went to check on the defender the Alkimos player shoved him away while using some choice language, which saw him served with a straight red card for his remonstrations.

The Alkimos coaches were furious and they began a war of words with Kiddle before the coach was served a red card and ordered to leave.

Gray was then served a yellow for his challenge but the coach and assistant coach continued to berate Kiddle before the assistant was served with a red card.

With both men continuing to shout from the dugout and tempers flaring Kiddle waved the game off with four minutes to go in the first half.

It wasn’t the end of the arguments with Alkimos yelling the decisions a “disgrace” before letting their frustrations known to Reds supporters.

Kiddle was escorted out of the ground by some of her Chapman Athletic Club members over fears of retaliation.

It was gallows humour amongst the Reds who still haven’t played a home game, with Gray stating it was hugely disappointing.

“All the boys jumping for this game, everyone wanted their 90 minutes at home, everyone loves playing here we finally get our home game five weeks into the season and we have 45 minutes,” he said.

“It was a late challenge I’ve gone over to say I’m genuinely sorry man and he’s retaliated and said every word on the sun and the referee sent him off.”

While Gray said the decision to send the player off with a straight red may have been harsh he defended Kiddle’s actions.

“No referee should have to put up with the abuse she had at all,” he said.

“Football West have put in plenty of new rules including a three-strike rule which will see every team associated with the club lose all its points should they have three strikes against their names and (Alkimos) knows that and you can’t speak to referees like that.”

The game was locked at 1-1 after William Cable answered Alkimos’ opening effort from the spot with Tom Mitic incredibly unlucky to see his effort curl just past the post after a brilliant solo run down the wing which would have given the Reds the lead.

As the game did not make it to half time there is no result with the game most likely having to be rescheduled depending on what comes out of the referee reports.

The reserves picked up their second straight win by forfeit with Alkimos not bringing up a second side.