It’s always annoying when the allocated referee doesn’t turn up, no matter who you play. But when the Racecourse manager tells you we don’t have an official official....then it’s a big problem. They will go to any length to win a game and dodgy officiating has previously been encountered when we turn out against them.
We started well, with loads of early pressure forcing 4 consecutive corner kicks inside 3 minutes, but we were unable to capitalise on them. The game then became scrappy as Racecourse woke up and started to get stuck in. They pushed, pulled and kicked us but didn’t create anything although we were making any chances either. Ryan sent a long ball over the top on 18 minutes which looked like it would go through to the Racecourse keeper. Simon chased the ball and got in just before the goalie but had to turn in a wide circle to get a shot in and by this time the keeper had recovered and blocked the shot. On 23 minutes a superb cross from Dom was met with an equally superb header from Simon which went inches over the bar. We put plenty of pressure on the home side without testing the keeper very much. Racecourse relied on breakaways for their attacks which saw Ryan, Aiden and in particular Connor making great tackles. For their defence they relied mainly on dirty play and fouling which very rarely got a whistle blown. Their antics even inclined a couple of head-butts. The half-time score was nil nil.
The 2nd half was much the same as the first. Poor refereeing and fouls left right and centre, very few free-kicks given our way and the slightest touch from a Manor player conceded a free-kick. Simon got sent clear for a one on one, but the ball held up as he was trying to get in to the area. This allowed the defender time to get back and the chance was gone. Connor went down following a disgusting two-footed lunge. “Shut up, you’ve got the free-kick” was the ref’s reply to our complaints. Racecourse put the ball in the net on the hour mark but the goalscorer looked about 5 yards offside. To our surprise the ref DID disallow it....the Racecourse manager was not best pleased but if he had allowed it then all hell would have broken loose! Racecourse had another chance on 67 minutes. Adam anticipated the close-range effort and blocked the shot. A forward dived feet first in to Adam’s chest dislodging the ball, Adam grabbed it again and this time got kicked to his jaw. Again, nothing given. Some great football from Moo, Foxy and Dom led to Corie getting a shot on target but it didn’t trouble the goalie. A corner from Moo with a couple of minutes left found Dom. His header was accurate and beat the keeper but wasn’t strong enough to beat the defenders in the six yard box.
So the game ended as it started with no goals. It was a good performance, we kept our discipline and if we’d had an allocated/official referee, we may have come away with 3 points. Instead we earned one by drawing against a team of 12.
Man of the Match went to Simon. Also a special mention for Jack who declined the chance to come on as sub.
