Orient game ends behind closed doors after fans tricked

They thought it was all over... but it wasn’t.

Colchester United beat already relegated Leyton Orient 3-1 in extraordinary circumstances yesterday after referee Carl Boyeson and the Football League tricked supporters mounting a pitch protest at owner Francesco Becchetti into thinking they had succeeded in getting the game called off.

A Tannoy announcement of its abandonment was made at 5.49pm after around 750 supporters staged a sitdown protest on 85 minutes, with Colchester leading. The game was stopped, with fans refusing demands to leave the pitch in what was the final League Two fixture at Brisbane Road.

But as soon as the fans departed, stewards were ordered back out to fix the nets. The game’s final five minutes – plus three minutes injury time – were then played out before 42 people in eerie silence. There were no further goals.

An EFL statement said that the decison to conclude the match behind closed doors had been made with the support of referee and both managers. “A decision was taken with the police to announce that the game had been abandoned, as it was felt that would help clear the pitch, which proved correct,” it said.

Orient manager Omer Riza also defended the decision. “Nothing surprises me as to what happens here at the moment but we got the game done and we move on to next week,” he said.

Elsewhere, Brighton and Hove Al- bion missed out on the chance to win Ipswich Town 1-0 with a goal from the Championship after losing 1-0 at Kieran Lee, Huddersfield Town and home to Bristol City, who have avoided Reading, who claimed their spot by relegation. beating Wigan 2-0, a result that condemned

The result leaves Brighton, who the visitors to relegation. travel to Aston Villa on the final day, Accompanying Fulham down will be one point ahead of Newcastle, who entertain one of Blackburn Rovers, Nottingham Barnsley. Forest or Birmingham City, after

Fulham all but clinched the final Burton, who drew 1-1 with Barnsley, Championship play-off spot after and QPR, who beat Forest 2-0, reached Leeds United drew 3-3 with Norwich safety. after staging a spectacular comeback Blackburn remain most in danger from three goals down. Fulham, who despite their 1-0 defeat of Aston Villa. drew 1-1 with Brentford after missing a Forest are level on points but with a penalty for the ninth time this season, one goal superior differential. Forest go into the final game three points and will go down if they fail to at least 13 goals better off than Leeds, so only a match Rovers’ result at Brentford. statistical freak would deny them. In League Two, either Hartlepool or

Fulham are joined by Sheffield Newport County will be relegated Wednesday, who qualify for the sec- alongside Orient, but Exeter City have ond successive season after beating confirmed their play-off place.