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Western Mass Pioneers 2

Bermuda Hogges 2

Bermuda Hogges battled against the odds to earn their first away point of the season against Western Mass Pioneers yesterday in a match marred by controversial refereeing.

Hogges suffered a double blow of having striker Jamie Smith sent off during a bizarre chain of events which also saw coach Kyle Lightbourne brandished with a red card and threatened with police action.

Defender Kevin Richards and winger Damon Ming were both on target in yesterday's eventful draw at Lusitano Stadium as Hogges bounced back from Friday night's five-goal defeat against the same opposition.

It's understood that Smith was originally issued a yellow card for a robust challenge but then given his marching orders after a lengthy delay, as the referee appeared to change his mind.

Aghast at the strange decision, Lightbourne remonstrated against Smith's dismissal but was then also ordered from his dug-out and forced to spend the remainder of the match in the visitors' dressing room.

Co-owner Paul Scope said he would be writing a letter to the league in an attempt to have both red cards rescinded.

"The whole thing was quite ridiculous. The referee walked away after initially giving Jamie a yellow card for what was a hard tackle but then proceeded to go back over to him after about a minute and sent him off.

"Kyle was then sent off as well after protesting against the decision although he didn't use any bad language or anything like that and the referee then wouldn't start the game until Kyle left the stands. If he didn't agree to leave the stands he was told they would get the police involved and have him arrested and put in jail. It was a shame because we had been winning until that point and very much in the ascendancy. They then scored two quick goals to leave us trailing but thankfully Damon (Ming) scored late on to earn us a morale boosting point."

Hogges were also reduced to ten men in Friday's match against Pioneers after skipper Omar Shakir was sent off after bringing down a player 25 yards out as the last defender.

Scope said Hogges priority was now to finish the campaign with their highest number of points and at least show that slow progress was being made.

"I believe we got 12 points during our first season, 17 points last season and at the moment we have 15 points," he said. "We have two games left and if we get 18 points or more at least that will show that we are progressing, albeit slowly."

Hogges return to the National Sports Centre on August 1 against Charlotte Eagles.