Bashley's brilliant 5-3 win at Bromley so nearly didn't happen.

Manager Geoff Butler requested the game be called off at half-time because of "blatant bias" from a stand-in linesman.

With the game all square at 1-1, one of the referee's assistants pulled a calf muscle and a replacement by the name of Ron Coombs stepped forward from the crowd.

One of his first actions was to controversially flag Bashley's 18-year-old keeper Stacey Harper for carrying the ball outside his area and, from the subsequent free-kick, Solomon Taiwo fired Bromley into a 2-1 lead.

Bash hit back courtesy of a Danny Arkwright own goal on 44 minutes, but Butler was determined not to let the matter lie.

He said: "An appeal went out for a replacement linesman and the first thing this guy does after coming over the barrier is take his glasses off because they're only for reading! I then find out he's Bromley's kitman and one of their biggest fans.

"At half-time I asked the referee at what point he was going to say this bloke was biased.

"I told him we were losing points, which was ridiculous, and said that if he didn't do something about it then I wanted the game called off. Anyway, another bloke came forward and we didn't have any problems after that."

Having fallen behind to an Adolph Amaoko goal after just 24 seconds, Butler abandoned his plan to play one up front and pushed makeshift defender Danny Gibbons back into attack.

Dave Wakefield levelled from the penalty spot before the drama of the linesman unfolded and it was Gibbons who fired Bash into a 3-2 lead after good work by Richard Gillespie in the 47th minute.

Bromley, who started the day an unbeaten third in the Ryman 1 table, got back on terms through Amaoko, but an extraordinary Scott Bennetts own goal and a stoppage-time charge from Gillespie set Bash up nicely for today's visit of Leatherhead.

Forest Green loan man Adie Adams is ruled out by ankle trouble, but 17-year-old reserve midfielder Darren Head should again feature after a solid debut at Bromley.

Fleet Town have signed former Bashley striker and assistant manager Fraser Quirke ahead of today's home game against Burgess Hill. The Navy frontman, who left Gosport during the summer, will provide much-needed cover in the absence of injured duo Richard Mealey and Ed Smith.

Fleet made it three games unbeaten on Saturday with a 2-2 draw at Corinthian Casuals. Having seen Lee Paul's 11th-minute goal overturned by Waghorn and Cartwright, Fleet levelled late through Shaun Hale.