HIGHMOOR Ibis will almost certainly be fined heavily by the Berks & Bucks FA after having their home Perputa Press Floodlit Cup tie against Bracknell Town on Monday abandoned in the 77th minute.

It is understood referee Keith Kennett feared for his safety after sending off Ibe Bangura and then being approached by Highmoor players, having previously booked six of them mostly for dissent.

There was no score at the time and it will now be up to the Hellenic League to decide if this second-round tie should be replayed.

Although Bracknell had enjoyed much more possession, Highmoor defended superbly, with Jamie Porter and Zak Tull outstanding against an attack headed by Terence Bohane and Liam Ferdinand, who between them had scored nearly 90 goals last season for Bracknell and Binfield respectively.

The Rivermoor men occasionally threatened on the counter-attack and, of the two keepers, Bracknell’s Chris Grace had to make the more important saves. But on the coldest evening of the season so far, 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.

There were four cautions in a short space of time before Bangura got himself into hot water.

The player, having already been cautioned, looked angry as he continued to talk to the referee and had to be dragged away by Bracknell’s Philip John, whipping his shirt off as he walked off.

As other Highmoor players approached, it was then Kennett decided he had seen enough.

It has to be said, the referee did not have the best of evenings 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 teams meet again next Tuesday (7.45pm ko) in a league match at Larges Lane.

Before that, Highmoor travel to Brackley Town Saints for a league game this Saturday.

They remain 17th in the table following their 1-1 draw with Lydney at Rivermoor last weekend, ending a run of six games without a win.

Highmoor fell behind just before half-time when Dwayne Coultress conceded a penalty – with acting manager Declan Jacob describing it as a harsh decision. Ross Gabriel made no mistake from the spot.

There were chances at both ends before Sanchez Commock equalised on 80 minutes to secure a deserved point.

Highmoor finished with 10 men after Austin Best had been shown two yellow cards. It was his second dismissal this season.