Controversy marred this heated Premier Division encounter between Devonshire Colts and Southampton Rangers two teams involved in the relegation battle at Police Field yesterday.

The visiting side were leading 2-1 in the final minute of regulation time when the home side were awarded a disputed penalty that put another twist on an already charged affair with so much at stake.

Neil Bervin, the Rangers defender, appeared to make a fair tackle on Ryan Purnell, the Devonshire Colts midfielder, in the box. However, Anthony Francis, the referee’s assistant, raised his flag, and Anthony Mouchette, the referee, awarded Colts a penalty. Lozendro Symonds converted the penalty kick, slotting into the left-hand corner to earn his team a share of the spoils.

Chaos flared after the final whistle blew when a skirmish broke out between the two teams.

Joseph Butterfield, the Devonshire Colts centre back, punched Anthony Rocker, the Rangers midfielder, in the head but went unpunished by the match officials.

Butterfield is also alleged to have punched Akale Bean, the Rangers striker, during another altercation in the first half which resulted with both players being booked.

Opposing coaches Ray Jones, of Colts, and Dawud Tucker, of Rangers, both accused the match officials of “poor officiating” with Jones further blaming the referee for “allowing the game to get out of hand”.

These shenanigans ruined what was otherwise a hard-fought battle with non-stop end to end action which kept spectators on the edge of their seats.

Bean squandered a gilt-edged chance to give Rangers the early lead when he lobbed the ball over the bar from close range with only Gregory Rose, the Colts goalkeeper, to beat.

Colts gradually seized the upper hand and created ample chances before the half. Teniko Eve, the Colts left back, broke free but hesitated to pull the trigger and Smith raced off his line to thwart the attack.

Zuri Darrell, the Colts striker, fired into the side netting from close range while Eli Smith, the Colts midfielder, poked the ball just wide after a mix up in the Rangers defence.

Smith was thwarted again when Bervin made a brilliant tackle while Smith made back-to-back saves to repel Darrell and Purnell as Colts continued to circle the wagon.

These missed opportunities came back to haunt the home team as Rangers took the lead against through poor defending. Butterfield allowed a high ball to bounce freely in the box which Jahkai Dyer, the Rangers midfielder, smashed into the roof of the net to give the visiting side a 1-0 advantage at the half.

Colts gave Rangers a taste of their own medicine early in the second half when Smith equalised after some poor defending. Smith, the Rangers goalkeeper, hesitated to come off his line to intercept a long ball in the box and when he finally did his namesake lobbed into the net.

Colts missed a glorious opportunity to go ahead when Jomei Bean-Lindo failed to convert a breakaway which again came back to haunt them as Bean scored from close range during a goalmouth scramble to put Rangers back in front.

Another flash point in the match arrived shortly after when Quinton Jones, the Colts right back, appeared to foul Bean in the box. Rangers thought for sure they would be awarded a penalty. However, Antoine Augustus, the referee’s assistant, kept his flag down and Colts were let off the hook.

The game opened up towards the end with both teams creating chances at opposite ends before Colts equalised from the penalty spot in the last minute.

TEAMS

Devonshire Colts (4-5-1): G Rose — T Eve, V Lambe, J Butterfield, Q Jones — R Purnell, J Bean- Lindo, L Symonds, T Foote, E Smith (sub: Q Simmons, 82min) — Z Darrell (sub: K Jones, 55). Booked: Butterfield. Substitutes not used: M Doucet, D Lambe, C Trott.

Southampton Rangers (4-4-2): J Smith — A Raynor (sub: S Perinchief, 81), N Bervin, J Hill, S Williams (sub: A Rocker, 61) — J Dyer, V Perinchief, E Stoneham, K Simmons — S Swan (sub: K Symonds, 87), A Bean. Booked: Smith, Bean, S Perinchief, Rocker. Substitutes not used: N Mello, M Lowe

Referee: A Francis.