Fleet keeper is attacked and abused
CHESTERFIELD face a possible ground closure after Ebbsfleet goalkeeper Nathan Ashmore was racially abused and kicked by a fan.
The ugly incident happened after home defender Will Evans made it 3-3 in the 95th minute, prompting supporters to rush onto the pitch and attack Ashmore in his goal.
Evans amazingly had time to replace keeper Callum Burton, sent off for shoving Michael Cheek, and save Cheek’s penalty in the ninth minute of stoppage time.
Chesterfield chief executive Graham Bean confirmed that the police were investigating the crowd incident and a club statement inferred serious repercussions.
It read: “The implications for the club are very serious and an appeal is made to supporters to not engage in matters of pitch encroachment at any time.
Abuse
“There have been a number of serious allegations relating to racial abuse and physical contact involving opposition players.”
Salford are back in the title race after winning 3-0 at leaders Leyton Orient, with two goals from Carl Piergianni.
After beating promotion rivals Wrexham and now the O’s with clean sheets City boss Graham Alexander said: “Hopefully these last two games have shown the character we’ve got.”
Salford leapfrogged Wrexham, who crashed 1-0 at home to Dover, with sub Anthony Jeffrey netting with his team’s first shot on target in the 88th minute.
Dagenham fought back from 3-0 down to earn a 4-4 draw with Boreham Wood and manager Peter Taylor said: “It was a fantastic recovery but for the first half hour we were absolutely hopeless and I was embarrassed.”