Sickening sucker punch for Doughboys among a red mist at Coleshill Town
Five red cards and a penalty five minutes into stoppage time will take the headlines as Wellingborough Town were held to a 1-1 draw at Coleshill Town on Saturday, in a match that lacked quality but offered plenty of drama.
Many a drama has been penned in Warwickshire - being home of course to the great bard himself.
But no one was quite prepared for the script that unfolded at Coleshill, with Borough boss Jake Stone describing the Pitching-In Northern Premier League Midlands Division clash 'the most undirtiest game in the world'.
Yet referee Karl Donaghey had such an impact on the game, it left fans and management alike both bemused and exasperated at what they had just witnessed.
And most frustratingly of all, a match which could have showcased the abilities of two sides who are well placed in the play-off hunt, did not happen.
Both sides came out tentatively with the Doughboys edging the opening salvos.
Will Jones was played through on 13 minutes but could not find the target whilst Alex McSkeane could only head a cross on the right over the bar on 17 minutes.
A nasty injury to Danny Draper on 28 minutes was the first flashpoint, when a Coleshill player appeared to pull hard on the midfielder's arm, resulting in Draper to leave the field with a suspected broken forearm.
Despite the incident happening right in front of the official, it went unpunished and potentially set a precedent for the game.
McSkeane, who had earlier had the best opportunity for the hosts, saw a straight red on the stroke of half time for an alleged elbow on Doughboy's captain Jack O'Connor.
But the visitors couldn't make the man advantage count and on 55 minutes the sides were levelled.
Connor Furlong's heavy touch of the ball whilst running towards the byline led him to needlessly hurl opposite number Lewis Allison off the field and crashing into the barriers - there could be no argument with the red card.
Finally, an attempt of note took place when Connor Tomlinson unleashed from 20 yards out forcing Cameron Belford to tip over the bar in acrobatic fashion on 57 minutes.
The best move of the match led to the opening goal on 73 minutes - Tomlinson's fine cross from the right found Lloyd Buckby who applied a neat header across the body of Belford before wheeling away in celebration.
But goal hero became villain five minutes later when he and Coleshill captain Taylor Carter-Byrne both saw red.
A poor challenge from Buckby resulted in a second yellow card, before Carter-Byrne reacted badly and was also sent for an early shower.
Referee Donaghey was still not done, showing Coleshill manager Harry Harris a red for encroaching onto the pitch whilst trying to retrieve the ball in the dying minutes.
The drama reached its crescendo four minutes into stoppage time.
Substitute Ryan Boothe was released towards goal, and when one-on-one with the keeper, pushed the ball just wide enough to force goalkeeper Dean Snedker into committing and bringing the striker down inside the area.
Boothe dusted himself off to calmly send Snedker the wrong way and salvage a point for the Colemen.
The draw meant Wellingborough Town moved up to seventh, but they remain four points adrift of fifth-placed Coleshill with a game in hand.
An unsatisfying end for Borough, who looked in control for most of the game, but were ultimately let down by not managing tempers or decision making late on.
Furthermore they are now down to the bare bones with Draper, Furlong and Buckby going to be unavailable for the foreseeable future.
Stone's black book of contacts is going to be heavily used this week!
Wellingborough are due back in action on Tuesday when they host Corby Town in the NFA Hillier Senior Cup semi-final at the Dog & Duck (ko 7.45pm).