THE National League has awarded an unprecedented victory to Slough Town after their match against Bath City was abandoned.
Slough were 4-2 in front when a medical emergency affecting a spectator occurred during the second half last month.
GettySlough manager Scott Davies will be happy with the verdict to award his team with the points[/caption]
Slough Town’s match with Batch City was abandoned after a fan collapsed
As time went by, the referee decided that the game should be abandoned in the 70th minute, as some 25 minutes of stoppage time had elapsed.
While the match was called off, many supporters were left in the dark over whether the result would stand or a replay would take place.
But now the National League has issued a statement with a never-before-seen decision.
The non-league body has decided to award all three points to Slough who were leading by two goals at the time the match was cancelled.
However, the goals scored in the match will NOT count towards either team’s goal difference in the league table.
The National League statement read: “We can confirm a decision has been reached following the abandonment of the match between Slough Town and Bath City.
“It has been decided that the game is not to be replayed, and the match has been awarded to Slough Town in accordance with League rules.
“Slough were 4-2 in front when a medical emergency affecting a supporter occurred during the second half of the match at Arbour Park last month.
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“Tables will be updated accordingly. Regulations state that while the home club are awarded three points, goals for and against are not to be added.”
Slough manager Scott Davies will be happy, as he initially described the decision to abandon the match as a ‘disgrace’, because the fan was in his words “fine” after five minutes.
A Slough Town statement after the match accused Bath of refusing to restart the match after the fan fell ill, despite match officials being happy to continue.
It read: “Regretfully, our National League South match against Bath City today was abandoned in the second half of the game, with Slough Town leading 4-2.
“A medical emergency affecting a Slough Town supporter occurred during the second half, which led to a pause in the game and the teams leaving the pitch.
“Following the pause in the game, the match officials confirmed that despite them being happy to resume the match, the Bath City management refused, which led to the abandonment.”
The decision leaves Bath in sixth, within the play-off places for promotion.
It means Slough sit in 12th – a comfortable 15 points above the relegation zone.
One fan wrote: “Feel sorry for the supporters who made the trip to Arbour Park. Bath had the momentum but Jerry threw in the towel. Disgraceful behaviour.”
Another said: “Well that’s embarrassing isn’t it.”
A third said: “Justice has been done.”
A fourth declared: “Absolutely the right decision made by NL. The stoppage was only 20min. The Slough supporter had recovered by then!”
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