By Mark Staniforth, PA Sport

Paul Smith walked into a storm of protest after clinching England's fifth boxing medal at Wythenshawe Forum.

The Liverpool 23-year-old looked to have been outpointed by rugged Ghanaian Thomas Awimbono in their light-middleweight quarter-final - but was handed the 21-17 verdict.

It so incensed the Ghanaians that they stormed out of the arena without the customary handshakes and their furious head coach later fumed: "The people here are unfair.

"You saw what happened. We are happy because we know we won in our hearts - only we cannot win in the ring."

Smith boxed well to shade the first round but Awimbono picked up the pace and had a tremendous third round which was not reflected in the judges' scoring. Smith also had two points deducted for holding.

Smith, who also suffered a bloodied nose, denied there was anything controversial about the result, but admitted: "I fought the wrong fight and I need to improve if I am going to win gold.

"He was raw, rugged and a novice and it came down to fitness at the end of the day.

"I didn't do what I was told to do. I was told to try and pick him off, but he wanted a war and I gave him one."

Smith faces a tough semi-final against Scotland's Craig McEwan, who overcame a standing count in the first round to narrowly beat South African Khotso Motau 16-13.

McEwan is the second Scot through to the medal matches and his happy-go-lucky attitude could take him further.

The 20-year-old said: "I thought getting here was the best bit but fighting for a medal is something else.

"I got caught by a silly punch but I got up and if I step things up a bit I think I can get gold. I'm just going to go for it - and if I keep enjoying it then I've won anyway."

There had been more controversy earlier when Welshman Tony Doherty walked into a stray elbow which cost him his welterweight medal dream.

The feisty Welshman lasted just over one minute into his quarter-final with Namibia's Ali Nuumbembe before he sustained a nasty cut in the corner of his right eye and the contest was stopped by the doctor.

Doherty claimed: "He caught me with his elbow right on the bone.

"I can't believe this outcome. If the referee had seen it the guy would definitely have been disqualified.

"I've spent my whole career training for this and I was more than confident of winning a gold medal. It's all gone down the drain."

Scotland's Colin McNeil, bronze medallist four years ago, was outclassed 19-3 by excellent South African Kwanele Zulu.

And Londoner Tony Cesay, representing Sierra Leone, missed out on a medal when he was beaten 25-13 by Australian Daniel Geale.