[naviga:font color="BLUE"]Real Maryland Monarchs 4

Bermuda Hogges 3

It's often said there's not a show in the world to match the theatre of football.

And there was certainly no shortage of drama in Bermuda Hogges' hugely controversial loss at Real Maryland Monarchs in a game that had more twists and turns than an Agatha Christie play.

Seven goals, a goalkeeper deployed as an emergency striker, dubious refereeing decisions, a double sending off, a stadium ejection and a player arrested at half- time.

Hogges' season curtain call simply had it all with mystery, heartbreak, play-acting and a touch of comedy just some of the themes which characterised this enthralling encounter.

Of all the intriguing plot-lines at Richard Montgomery High School on Saturday, the most concerning was Hogges' two-goal hero Stephen Astwood being mysteriously led out of the dressing room by Montgomery County Police in handcuffs at half-time.

The powerful midfielder, who was questioned by police regarding a personal domestic issue and released yesterday, had almost single handedly dragged his team back into the game with a double-salvo after Hogges had found themselves trailing by two early goals – the opener coming after just 16 seconds.

Co-owner Paul Scope said Hogges had badly missed Astwood. "It was sad to lose him as he was on his way to scoring Hogges' first ever hat-trick." he said.

Astwood wasn't the only member of Hogges' travelling party to be marched from the ground by a uniformed officer with assistant coach Jack Castle forced to watch the majority of the entertaining spectacle from the school car park as punishment for exchanging words with the fourth official.

Castle complained after player/coach Kyle Lightbourne was ordered to sit down after performing his warm-up routine from behind the linesman, as is permitted in pretty much every level of professional football.

While Castle remonstrations probably could have been subtler, his ejection smacked of over-zealous officiating and achieved only to stoke up an already bad-tempered match.

"Once again there was misinterpretation of the rules in my opinion," added Scope. "I mean, when do you ever see Alex Ferguson escorted from a stadium after arguing with a fourth official?

"The same thing happened to Kyle Lightbourne when we visited Western Mass Pioneers. It's kind of ridiculous, the official over-reacted."

The farcical chain of events then saw Jared Peniston respond in kind after being head butted by Joe Funicello, with both players receiving red cards.

While Peniston should have had the presence of mind to walk away from the incident, Funicello's theatrical response was nothing short of an embarrassment.

Peniston's sending off seemed to foster a siege mentality in Hogges who demonstrated plenty of appetite for the battle with Astwood cancelling out Jamie Holmes' brace for Monarchs before the interval.

Astwood scored from the free kick Hogges had been awarded following Funicello's attack on Peniston, with Monarchs goalkeeper David Kern somehow allowing the ball to sneak over the line.

The equaliser, which proved to be Astwood's final say in proceedings, was a well-taken penalty after a Monarchs defender was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the box.

Despite the loss of Astwood, Hogges started the second half brightly with Domico Coddington causing plenty of problems from an uncustomary right-back position.

Coddington, who switched to defence after Hogges were reduced to ten men, created a glorious chance for Jamie Smith with a delightful cross which the big striker was unable to force home.

Reserve goalkeeper Jason Williams then replaced Smith up front such was the lack of depth in the Hogges squad.

But Lightbourne's men seem to thrive when their backs are against the wall and took the lead when Astwood's half-time replacement, Lloyd Holder, showed his predatory instincts with a stooping header.

Holder, who was understandably aggrieved at not having started the match considering his recent goalscoring form, showed his delight by pointing towards the merry band of Hogges supporters who had made the trip across the pond for their team's final game of the campaign. Their joy was short-lived, though, as Monarchs equalised almost immediately when substitute Kevin King beat goalkeeper Nigel Burgess from distance.

The Jamaican striker struck again late on with a header that appeared to be offside to ensure the final act of the match had an element of the Shakespearian tragedy for Hogges whose efforts deserved a far happier ending.

Bermuda Hogges: N.Burgess, J.Peniston, B.Bean (K.Lightbourne 85 mins), S.DeGraff, D.Cox, T.Russell, D.Ming, S.Astwood (L.Holder 45 mins) L.Dill D.Coddington, J.Smith (J.Williams 72 mins)

Real Maryland Monarchs: D.Kern, F.Lewis, J.Borrajo, C.Lewis, G.Lewis, T.Taylor, J.Carroll (F.Lewis 60 mins), J.Funicello, R.Cordeiro, M.Holoday (D.Hertel 55 mins), J.Holmes (K.King 52 mins)

Red cards: J. Peniston (Hogges); J.Funicello (Monarchs)

Yellow cards: T.Russell (Hogges)

Man of the match: D.Coddington (Hogges)