Kings Langley joint manager Ritchie Hanlon believes AFC Rushden & Diamonds’ controversial equaliser directly led to the late abandonment of their match at Gaywood Park on Tuesday night.

The hosts were leading 1-0 through Stuart Deaton’s header in the 76th minute with the match approaching injury time.

Kings kicked the ball out of play after a couple of injuries to their team. But instead of returning the ball back to the home side once play restarted, Rushden & Diamonds carried on attacking and Dan Quigley scored the controversial equaliser.

Tensions were already high when a late challenge in injury time sparked a melee between the teams and the match was abandoned by the referee despite being on the verge of full time.

Hanlon, who was sent off during the heated finale, said: “The game is all about opinions but in my eyes that is not how football is run or should be played.

“It was soul destroying and if they gave the ball back to us then these events wouldn’t have happened. There was huge frustration and anger at what had gone on.

“I rightly got sent off for remonstrating with the officials and apologised afterwards because there is not a written rule that they have to give the ball back. It was just pure frustration.”

Hanlon added: “There is a football etiquette and I’ve never seen anything like it. That was the defining moment in the game because none of it would have happened if they had passed the ball back to us.”

Joint manager Paul Hughes had to spend the night in hospital with a head injury after he was thrown into the wall by Elliott Lamb-Johnson which resulted in a sending off for the opposing player just prior to the abandonment.

Hughes said: "I had to spend the night in A & E which caused me anxiety that I don't need. I didn't expect to get that from a game against Rushden & Diamonds."

The matter is now in the hands of the FA and it is not yet clear if the match will be replayed or if the 1-1 draw will stand.

Kings boss Hanlon was particularly frustrated the gloss had been taken off their own performance in coming so close to beating one of the best teams in Southern League Division One Central.

Hanlon said: “It should have been 1-0 to us but instead their centre forward took the law into their own hands. We should have been talking about our young team winning a game against the best team in the league.

“Our young side were outstanding. Their work rate and desire was second to none. We matched the best team in the league and they will probably go on to win the division. For our lads to be winning was absolutely fantastic.”

There was no such controversy on Saturday when Kings Langley won 2-0 at Leighton Town after a brace from Mitchell Weiss.