It seemed like he was going to be a good, understanding ref. He agreed, with their captain, to delay the KO so that we could wait for Owen and Dave. Dave had decided that a 20 minute train from Barnes to Raynes Park via Clapham Junction was too much hassle and instead decided to go to Chiswick Park and get a bus from there, before running then rest of the way taking him about 1 1/2 hours. The ref could not wait that long and we kicked off the game with 10 men after Owen had made it.
Predictably, Witan started the stronger, keeping the ball and trying the make the 10 men of Meads work. Meads kept a good shape though and any potential chances were being thwarted. With Dave getting changed on the side, Witan took the lead. Just as Dave was ready, their Striker turned inside, perhaps too easily, and finished nicely past Tim. Dave trotted onto the pitch and relieved Matt from the left back position and normal service was resumed. With the 11 men, Meads were controlling the game, pressing Witan into mistakes and passing the ball around. The equaliser came not too long after when Rash was set free; he bustled through the challenges, holding off allcomers, before nicely slotting the ball home in his first game of the season. 1-1.
Meads were now playing the better football and it seeemed were on an inexorable rise to victory before disaster struck. George and Rash combined nicely and George was in the box. Just as George looked to jink past another defender, he was crunched, fairly, and he fell to the floor in agony. His game was over. Meads had only managed about 15 minutes with the full complement of players before they were back down to 10. The half finished with neither team creating any meaningful chances and it remained all square.
The second half was to be a half of patience for Meads, who had to soak up the pressure, although the pressure was never threatening. Witan were playing the ball around at the back, which was of no concern to Meads and every time they pushed it forward the back four were ready to mop it up. The only issue Meads had was retaining possession, which was a tough ask with Rash, Owen and Matt being asked to fill in defensively as well as look to stretch Witan's back four. Whilst the chances were not really there, Meads had shown admirable character and resilience to stay more than in the game going into the last 20 minutes. Then the ref changed everything.
With 20 minutes to go, thier striker was about 4/5 yards offside but the ref waved play on, despite putting the whislte to his mouth and thinking better of it. they duly went on to run down the pitch and score, 2-1. Cue some rather strong worded objections from the Meads players, which were met with understandable rejection from the ref. Although hard done by, Meads were not going to give up having worked so hard and soon after they got their just rewards. Joe, now up front after Kev had run himself into the ground and had gone to CB, just about got to a through ball before the keeper (or he may have kicked it out of his hands) and he poked it through his legs and then into the empty net, cue a s**t celebration from Joe.
The contraversy didnt stop there when a couple of minutes later Matt thought he had won it for the 10 men of Meads. Rash cut inside his man nicely and played the ball to Joe who had the 2 centrebacks and the goalie infront of him. Hearing shouts from his left, Joe squared it to the unmarked Matt who slotted the ball into the empty net...But the ref had other ideas and after about 5 seconds a whistle shattered Meads' happiness. The ref had called Matt offside despite being level with Joe and the 2 centre backs playing him on by about 3 yards and, which is normally a very good indicator, not one objection from the oppostion.
Meads misery was to be compounded when Witan went down the other end with the ball but gave possession to Jon; Jon cleared the ball down the line but was blocked clearly by thier sliding striker who diverted the ball out. To everyone's dismay (inc Witan's) the ref gave Witan the throw. They threw the ball in, it hit Luke on the arm, they get freekick, they score the freekick, 3-2 Witan, final whistle blows, Meads devestated and shocked.
A great performance wrecked by the referee, I know this can be the stock excuse for a teams failings, but on this occassion, it is with total justification. Meads worked tirelessley for 90 minutes, the majority of which with 10 men and deserved to get something from the game. 3 huge decisions went against them, which all led directly to goals given or not given. Meads can be proud of their performance despite it resulting in two losses on the bounce. If they take the performance into next week and show the same desire to get a result, the next round of the cup should beckon.
MOM went to Andy for a superb performance at right back. His first game back for the season and he showed his tenacity, discipline and understanding of the game to deal with everything that was thrown at him.
