BRACKNELL Town’s Perputa Press Floodlit Cup tie at Highmoor Ibis on Monday was abandoned with 15 minutes remaining, writes Dave Wright.

It is understood referee Keith Kennett feared for his safety after sending off Highmoor’s Ibe Bangura, having previously booked six home players mostly for dissent.

There was no score at the time and it will now be up to the Berks & Bucks FA to issue disciplinary measures and the Hellenic League to decide if this second-round tie should be replayed.

Bracknell would probably be reluctant to return as it’s not the first time they have experienced problems at Rivermoor Stadium this season.

In the league fixture there in September, the floodlights went out with 10 minutes remaining at a time when the Robins were pressing hard for the winner with the score at 2-2.

The lights did come back on, but the Robins were unable to regain their momentum and there were no further goals.

Like on that occasion, Bracknell found Highmoor a tough nut to crack this week.

Town enjoyed much more possession, but struggled to create many clear-cut chances.

The west Reading side threatened on the break and, of the two keepers, Bracknell’s Chris Grace, who was captain for the night, had to make the better saves.

It certainly wasn’t the most entertaining of games and the only real noteworthy items in the second half became the number of times Kennett pulled out the yellow card.

Starting from the 52nd minute, there were four cautions in a short space of time before Bangura saw red.

Having whipped off his shirt, the player looked angry as he confronted the referee and had to be dragged away by Bracknell’s Philip John.

Other Highmoor players surrounded Kennett before he decided to call the game off.

The team’s total of red cards is now into double figures, with three having come at Binfield two months ago.

It has to be said, Kennett did not have the best of games on Monday with Bracknell even questioning one or two of his decisions in a match where there was not one bad foul committed by either side.

The two sides meet again next Tuesday (7.45pm) in a league match at Larges Lane.