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Leyton Orient's League Two match against Colchester on Saturday was abandoned and then restarted after fans of the beleaguered home side took to the pitch.
ESPN FC's Iain Macintosh shared footage of the protest and applauded the fans for doing so:
He later also confirmed the match had been abandoned. But once the fans of both sides had left, the pitch was quickly prepared to play out the final five minutes.
Journalist David Worsfold couldn't believe it:
The EFL explained the decision to trick the fans in a statement:
Macintosh described the scenes during the protest, with Colchester fans applauding the hosts for taking a stand:
The demonstration started after Colchester scored twice in the span of minutes to take a 3-1 lead. Orient had battled back from a 1-0 deficit in their final home match of the season, and the immediate setback was too much for the fans to handle.
The historic club has endured a miserable season in League Two, culminating in relegation to the National League after over 100 years in the Football League.
Chairman Francesco Becchetti is as unpopular as manager Omer Riza, and both were the target of chants during Saturday's protest.
Per Macintosh, the fans had little to lose:
With Colchester still hunting for a spot in the play-offs, the decision to play out the final minutes is an understandable one. It will not sit well with the fans of either side, however.
Last-placed Orient are scheduled to finish the season at Blackpool on Saturday, May 6. Like the O's, the Tangerines are a historic club that have fallen on hard times of late, although Blackpool could yet qualify for the play-offs.
AFC Wimbledon gained promotion to League One for the first time in their history on Monday after a late Lyle Taylor finish guided them to a 2-0 win over Plymouth Argyle in Wembley's League Two play-off final. Substitute Adebayo Akinfenwa converted a penalty in the ninth minute of added time to put the play-off to bed.
Victory brought an end to AF Wimbledon's five-year stay in League Two and marked a turn-up for the bookmakers after they finished seventh in the division, the lowest-ranked outfit of any play-off contender this term.
Monday's Wembley showdown was far from epic, but Taylor's timely winner ensured manager Neal Ardley's side will play in English football's third tier for the first time in their 14-year history.
The Telegraph's Jeremy Wilson lauded the young club's rise, not to mention the derby fixture to come next season following MK Dons' relegation from the Championship:
The stakes were high for both teams after the two contenders started off in a tense and tetchy manner, with each side aware of the prize that could elude whomever blinked first.
Jamille Matt took up his perch as Plymouth's main target up front, while the partnership of Tom Elliott and Taylor led the line for Wimbledon in what made for a far different attacking approach.
Elliott in particular—standing tall at 6'3"—was utilised for his aerial threat and posed as a foundation for Taylor to run off, which worked wonders for patches of the opening half, but with little impact on goal to show for it.
Even Plymouth's official Twitter account couldn't help but point out the slightly tedious dynamic of the Wembley decider after the two teams went in scoreless at the half-time interval:
Wimbledon looked the superior party in the first 30 minutes, but after assuming control coming in at the break, it was the Pilgrims who came out firing after the restart, largely thanks to winger Gregg Wylde.
However, that good work was almost undone by midfielder Carl McHugh, who attempted a nonsensical chip back to goalkeeper Luke McCormick and almost netted in his own goal. Wembley's official Twitter account described the head-scratching attempt:
Although the quality of the football on display was unremarkable, both sets of supporters were in stellar voice in London. Wimbledon brought 25,000 supporters, while Plymouth hauled 35,000 to Wembley, per the Guardian's Michael Butler.
Taylor finally provided the breakthrough with just over 10 minutes remaining, sending the Wombles supporters into ecstasy with his glanced right-foot finish from a Callum Kennedy cross. OptaJoe pointed out the 26-year-old Montserrat international has enjoyed his recent appearances against Argyle:
It was also worth noting the effect that super-substitute Akinfenwa had in the build-up. He sucked Plymouth's defenders toward him shortly before Taylor made the big impact, per Bet365:
Plymouth chief Derek Adams attempted to topple the scoreline late on after throwing on Reuben Reid and Jordon Forster, but it wasn't enough to surmount Wimbledon's charge.
Taylor had a prime chance to double his tally late on, but he came off with a cramp in place of Ade Azeez, and it was Akinfenwa who converted a penalty deep into added time to seal the victory:
Monday's play-off triumph means Wimbledon will compete for a spot in the Championship come the 2016-17 campaign—a far cry from their days in the Combined Counties League Premier Division 14 years ago.
From the depths of England's tiers to League One, Wimbledon's rise continued with a historic landmark win at Wembley and sealed the club's third time gaining promotion via the play-offs.
Post-Match Reaction
The scenes at Wembley painted a picture of just what a special moment Monday's win was in Wimbledon's short history, and Ardley knows the club's talents like few others, having taken over at their helm in 2012.
Promotion to League One was the ultimate payoff for all his hard work, and he put into words his admiration for the organisation at full time, per BBC Sport's Juliette Ferrington:
Neil Ardley @AFCWimbledon "I'm proud to play a part in this wonderful story, because this club means so much to me." pic.twitter.com/qs2ShARPHV
— juliette ferrington (@juliette_grace) May 30, 2016
As emotional as the players were, Ardley was also eager to get involved in the promotion celebrations, too, as George Smyly, sport PR for JSC Communications, posted footage of his full-time reaction:
Despite the win, Akinfenwa, a free agent next month, made sure to put the feelers out for potential new employers, according to Radio 5 Live host Mark Chapman:
Wimbledon were last to make it into the League Two play-offs this season, but their reward was all the sweeter because of it, and Ardley's masterminded project will continue in the third tier next season.
There was a hugely controversial moment in League Two on Saturday when the referee for AFC Wimbledon's clash with Accrington Stanley blew the whistle for half-time—just as the away side scored.
Accrington were pushing for a breakthrough as the first half drew to a close at Kingsmeadow, and they had the ball in the penalty box when Trevor Kettle blew to bring an end to the half.
Only at almost the exact same moment, Accrington's Billy Kee's shot found its way through the bodies and into the bottom corner.
The goal wasn't allowed despite furious protests from the visitors, with the game finishing 0-0 after 90 minutes.
No wonder they weren't happy.
[YouTube]
Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez's outrageous pass-penalty has been the talk of the football world this week—but they weren't the first to attempt the alternative spot-kick.
That honour belongs to Plymouth Argyle, who successfully converted when Johnny Newman teed up Mike Trebilcock from the spot in a Second Division game against Manchester City in 1964.
Others have since followed the Pilgrims' lead, including Johan Cruyff in 1982 and Thierry Henry and Robert Pires (unsuccessfully) in 2005, before Messi and Suarez combined to enthral and infuriate the world in equal measure on Sunday.
[YouTube]
He's a 15-time NBA All-Star and a four-time champion, so Shaquille O'Neal's English football club of choice might shock you.
The 43-year-old revealed in a YouTube message to Northampton Town that he's a surprise fan of the Cobblers, who currently lead League Two, English football's fourth tier.
Chris Wilder's side made it seven straight wins with a 4-0 triumph over Leyton Orient on Saturday, and the 19-year NBA legend urged them to keep up their standards as they seek promotion into League One.
"First place is where I like to be, and it's great to see you guys at the top," the former Los Angeles Lakers star said. "I know what it takes to win championships, so you've got to make sure you finish strong and do not give up that intensity."
O'Neal, who developed the Florida-based Shaq-Fu Internet radio station with Northampton owner Kelvin Thomas, also vowed to visit Sixfields Stadium one day.
The Cobblers are away at third-placed Oxford United on Tuesday.
"I had to shove him out of the door!" @Redknapp sold Benjani - but he didn't want to go! #FletchAndSav https://t.co/lk4DDtQxpp
— Fletch And Sav (@FletchAndSav) January 2, 2016Former Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp has revealed how hard it was to convince Benjani to join Manchester City in 2008.
The Zimbabwean had been in fine form for Pompey when nouveau riche City tabled an irresistible £9.5 million bid for the striker.
But talking on BT Sport's Fletch and Savshow on Saturday morning, Redknapp revealed how he had to "shove him out of the door" as Benjani didn't want to leave.
Poor guy!
[Twitter: @FletchAndSav]
Leyton Orient have played down an incident in which club president Francesco Becchetti appeared to kick assistant coach Andy Hessenthaler.
The incident occurred immediately after Orient's 3-2 win over Portsmouth on Boxing Day, but the club have released a statement explaining the bizarre footage, according to PA Sport Report, via Eurosport :
Mr Becchetti and Mr Hessenthaler would like to clarify the reports in the media following the Boxing Day game.
The event reported in the media was very much in good humour for both the president and assistant manager and part of an ongoing and good natured exchange between the two over the past few weeks.
There was absolutely nothing untoward about the exchange and the two men get along very well professionally on the pitch and personally off the pitch.
Hessenthaler also dismissed the incident, telling Sky Sports News, via Eurosport:
It's a little bit of banter—a bit of stuff that's been going on for the last few weeks between us and probably looked worse than it was.
He's a passionate guy and we all are. We're all desperate to win. It was a little bit of fun and games at the end. He was getting involved and we've got to concentrate on what we were doing.
Becchetti was sitting behind the dugout as Orient came from behind to claim an impressive win.
[YouTube: Football72, h/t Eurosport]
The story of Carlisle United's flooded stadium has one more twist.
The town was hit hard by Storm Desmond and the League Two club's submerged facilities made headlines across the country.
On Thursday, Carlisle United announced that a groundsman had discovered three Koi carp in the goalmouth at Brunton Park.
Not only that, the club later revealed on its Twitter feed that a local man, one "Mark Chandler from Warwick Road," had actually come forward to claim the fish when he saw the earlier post.
The power of social media...
[h/t Metro]
How to arrest a form slump, with Leyton Orient owner Francesco Becchetti.
Orient's 3-1 loss to Hartlepool over the weekend extended a run of poor form that has seen the League Two side win just twice in 12 games, after winning their opening five games to the season.
Becchetti's side are seventh in England's fourth tier, but the Italian has had enough and checked his team into the £100-a-night Marriott Hotel in Waltham Abbey immediately after Sunday's defeat, reports Sam Cunningham of the Daily Mail.
While the squad of 18 and six staff are at least allowed to visit their families, they have to eat, sleep and live at the hotel, as well as travel to and from training with their team-mates.
The move is expected to cost the club thousands, though it will feel like short change if they can achieve their goal of promotion.
"I wouldn’t want to be the one paying the bill," manager Ian Hendon said. "The owner has had different sporting ventures over the years and he said sometimes it’s good to get together and spend time together. It helps team bonding."
Forty-nine-year-old Becchetti bought the London side in July 2014 for £4 million.
It's unclear whether the side will remain holed up in the hotel after Saturday's match against York, but Hendon jokes that his employer might want him there longer-term "if we win four or five-nil."
If not, well, the boss might well try confiscating his cellphone.