Recent performances had been encouraging for Town although they had little to show for it and once again the injury crisis meant 10 players were unavailable. That being said it was still a strong starting 11 with more than enough quality to get something from the game.
Town started at a lightening pace and should have been 4 up in the first 10 minutes but once again were guilty of missing golden opportunities. Jelly had two one on one opportunities that he fired straight at the keeper. A great move down the right side resulted in an inch perfect cross from Sam Jayes only for Mcdade to fire over on the half volley that’s probably still rising now! Jayes then had an opportunity as he was put clean through only to shoot wide of the left hand post. Jelly once again found himself through on goal only to try an improbable chip that the keeper easily collected. Eventually the deadlock was broken when Aubrey found himself through on the right side bearing down on the keeper only to unselfishly cut the ball back inside for Cossu to fire into an empty net. Town continued to push creating chance after chance but were unable to add to their lead and went into the break 1 up. HT HFC 0-1 LTFC.
The second half began as the first had ended with Town in complete control and another chance fell to Jelly in front of goal but he fired high and wide. Town were then made to pay for not taking their chances when Hathern levelled in the 55th minute. Town once again poured forward and were quickly back in front when Aubrey once again ran through on the right and centred for Jelly who shot straight at the keeper from 4 yards but then turned on the rebound and found the bottom corner. Town switched off again 4 minutes later and from a corner the Hathern forward bundled the ball into the back of the net with his hand and turned away laughing as the referee allowed the goal. In a game that should have been dead and buried, Town then found themselves behind when the 2 centre halves collided and somehow from that the referee saw the need to give a penalty! Clear favouritism was being shown from a referee who had been in charge in 4 of Hathern’s 6 games to date. Hathern made no mistake from the spot to make it 3-2. Town rallied again and soon after a 25 yard effort from Simmonds was spilled into the net by the keeper, 3-3. With 5 minutes remaining Town deservedly took the lead again when a fine individual run from Jayes saw him turn at the edge of the area and fire into the top corner. 3-4. With 2 minutes remaining a fight broke out in the middle of the pitch involving several players. All players stopped to try and break the fight up as the Hathern forward who with no exaggeration was standing 15 yards offside put the ball into an empty net with no other players paying any attention. The referee managed to book several Town players and not one Hathern player even after punches had been thrown! He then had a discussion with the linesman who advised the goal was a long way offside only for the referee to state he didn’t see the offside as his attention was elsewhere so he couldn’t give it and allowed the goal!! The reaction from Town bench, players and supporters was perfectly understandable. It was one of the most disgusting decisions and performances ever seen on a football pitch and its men like this that give referee’s a bad name! The game ended with no injury time even though the game had been held up for several minutes! Respect must go to the Hathern players and management who admitted afterwards it had been an awful refereeing performance and that he had shown clear bias towards them. A report has been submitted to the FA but we don’t expect anything to come of it! In a game where Town were head and shoulders above the opposition they had once again only come away with a point due to not only the referee but some pretty poor defending also. FT HFC 4-4 LTFC.
