LONDON (CMC):
St Kitts and Nevis striker Jacob Hazel bagged a brace in Darlington’s 5-2 win at Scarborough Athletic yesterday, but the victory was overshadowed by the alleged abuse of a woman official that resulted in the sixth-tier National League North game being suspended for more than half an hour.
The 28-year-old Hazel scored either side of half-time to take his goal tally for the season to 12.
New league leaders Darlington announced that they would launch an investigation after their victory at the Flamingo Land Stadium was blighted by misogynistic comments that were allegedly directed at assistant referee Emily Carney during both halves of the game, the Northern Echo newspaper reported.
During the first half, Carney, who was running the line directly in front of the 820 Darlington fans, briefly interrupted play to speak to match referee Dean Watson.
The play was resumed, but at half-time, a message was twice read out via the public address system, asking “supporters of both sides” to refrain from using misogynistic and abusive language.
Carney swapped sides during the break, meaning she started the second half running the line in front of Scarborough’s supporters. However, nine minutes into the second half, after Hazel scored to make it 3-0 to Darlington, Carney had another conversation with Watson and play was stopped once again.
The players left the field for around 30 minutes amid confusion about what was going on before they eventually returned to complete the fixture, with more than half an hour of stoppage time being played, the newspaper said.
Meanwhile, 31-year-old Grenada defender Omar Beckles saw red late on as he was sent off deep into stoppage time for an elbow on Aaron McGowan as League Two leaders Leyton Orient lost 1-0 at third-place Northampton Town.
After Ben Fox netted the game’s only goal in 51 minutes, Beckles thought he had scored an immediate leveler, but his goal, a tap-in from a free-kick, was disallowed for offside following a long consultation between linesman and referee.
Eighteen-year-old forward Shaqai Forde, whose father Fabian played for Barbados, grabbed a 90th-minute equalizer as York City drew 2-2 at Gateshead in the fifth-tier National League.
On Sunday, 28-year-old Guyana international Tre Mitford scored a consolation goal deep into stoppage time on his debut for National League North side Boston United, who lost 2-1 at 10-man Kings Lynn Town.
Striker Mitford scored eight goals for his previous club, rivals Gloucester City.