Hampton and Richmond manager Alan Devonshire has backed under-fire referee Gavin Hoare, who fled from the pitch midway through Saturday's 2-0 win at Folkestone Invicta, writes Craig Nelson.

Hoare refused to come back on for nearly 20 minutes and asked for the police to be called to the ground after supporters allegedly threatened to attack him and his family.

Devonshire said: "The referee was in quite a state when he came off the pitch and I felt for him. He told me he was threatened by a couple of their supporters who said they were going to stab him and his wife. They said they knew where he lived."

The match erupted in the 57th minute when Hoare awarded Hampton a dubious penalty.

Adrian Allen was apparently punched' in the back by Folkestone player John Guest as they jostled in the box during a Hampton free-kick. Guest was sent off and Ryan Ashe dispatched the penalty.

Events took a turn for the worse after the re-start when Hoare awarded Hampton a tame free-kick. Folkestone boss Neil Cugley ran on to the pitch to support his players, who surrounded the referee, while a small number of Folkestone fans ran to the sidelines and shouted abuse at the official.

Visibly shaken, Hoare sent Cugley to the stands and walked off the pitch without telling the players, or his assistants what he was doing. But after he eventually restarted the game Elliot Godfrey got Hampton's second goal to earn their first away win in the league since last August.

Hampton: Drake; Harper, Wells, Lewington (Fernandes, 84), Elverson, Jeffrey, Inns, Godfrey, Allen (Kwakye, 79), Ashe (Gardner, 79), Morley. Subs not used; Ulasi, Deegan.

On Tuesday Hampton beat Uxbridge 2-0 with goals from Adrian Allen and Luke Fontana to reach the semi-finals of the Middlesex Senior Cup.

Hampton: Drake; Harper, Wells, Lewington, Elverson, Jeffrey, Inns, Godfrey, Fontana, Gardner, Ulassi.

Sixth-in-the-table Hampton have a full squad to choose from for this Saturday's crucial home Ryman Premier League match against fourth-placed Leyton (3pm).