Wingate & Finchley have stressed their Ryman Premier League clash against Thurrock was “a well-mannered game” despite game being abandoned after the Blues had five players sent off.

Ahmet Rifat, Osa Obamwonyi, Ronayne Marsh-Brown and John Christian had all been dismissed before a final red card for dissent saw Wingate down to six men.

FA rules state that a game can’t continue if a team has less than seven players.

A Wingate statement read: “The club acknowledges that an unusual occurrence happened at yesterday’s game.

“However, for those who were not present at the game, it was abandoned for five separate red cards at five separate times, where two of the players were dismissed for two bookable offences.

“Both the opponents and the league have acknowledged that it was a well-mannered game between two sides battling relegation.

“The club feel it inappropriate to comment further until such time as the referee and league reports have been issued.”

Blues chairman Aron Sharpe said: “The club’s board and volunteers have worked tirelessly in my time here over the last five years to try to create a forward-thinking ‘family club’ that has a strong emphasis on youth development and progression.

“Rather than focus on a negative that was entirely out of the realms of control off the pitch, I would like to focus on all of the positive aspects of the club that have taken place, firstly yesterday and also within the time in which the club came under the control of an entirely new board five or so years ago.

“Prior to the game we hosted a disability five-a-side tournament with many teams entered, and this saw many local people with disabilities enjoying their moment.

“We also had local school children invited to be coached by our first-team coaches and players, and they were actively involved in the squad’s warm-up. These are all regular proactive and inclusive efforts made by people at the club.”