Game at Northowram abandoned

Referee Mike Sharman, who is the fixture secretary of the Halifax Sunday League, called a halt after 44 minutes with Northowram leading their Premier Division rivals 4-2.

He is alleged to have been threatened by a member of the Elland management.

The game had taken an extraordinary turn of events in the space of five minutes, the visitors having seen a 2-1 lead evaporate playing down the slope.

Trouble flared following Alex O’Keefe’s equaliser from Jake Baker’s overhead clearance after 40 minutes which angered the Elland players and resulted in a sending off for foul and abusive language.

Cousins Matthew and Daniel Rushworth struck in quick succession for the Rams and an exchange of words between the referee and the Elland management then resulted in the game being abandoned.

Meanwhile, both of last year’s finalists crashed out of the Skircoat Green Physiotherapy-backed competition.

Stump Cross, winners for the last two seasons, lost 2-1 at division-lower Denholme United and Sowerby United went down 5-2 at home to West Central from the bottom division.