Goal: Nicholas (p)
A very frustrating day for the Reserves, as we lost the game and conceded 3 goals, none of which should have stood.
The day didn’t look good when at London Bridge, Johnny got a little ‘present’ from the pigeons above. This string of luck then lead to him being accosted by an angry ticket lady, forcing him to miss the train and having to get the next one. Les was of course late, and we had to go without him!
When the game started, we were hit by bad luck – after 10 minutes Will had to come off having done his knee again – it looks a bad one, so chin up mate, make sure you are back by the end of the season!
The game hinged around 3 contentious decisions, that we feel the normally excellent referee got dreadfully wrong. Their first goal came when a Bardgie clearance was bravely charged down by their striker, whose ricochet sent the ball in – what’s the problem I hear you say? Well – he charged the ball down with his hand (In fact it transpired that he broke his hand in the process of doing so – we wish him a speedy recovery!) Surely that is a handball and the goal shouldn’t stand?
Contentious decision number two was when a corner was half cleared, and their striker clearly controlled the ball with his hand and hammered home. Goal awarded.
We were playing excellent football, apart from in the final 3rd, where we were lacking. Karnell was roasting his fullback, but the story of the day is that we did not ask enough questions of a defence that we could have got change from.
We pulled a goal back when a long throw from Macca was controlled by a Wilsonian arm – again ignored by the Ref, but the resulting foul on Karnell was not, resulting in Louie making no mistake from the spot. Moments after Harry forced a top save from the Keeper with a volley from 12 yards.
Half time and we were playing good football, and honestly felt we could get something from the game. But 10 minutes in contentious decision number 3 was awarded – Bardgie bravely came out at the feet of an attacker, winning the ball and stopping it dead. Said attacker trips over Bardgie. Penalty awarded. If he had not got the ball, why did it stop? Shocking. Penalty hammered home. 3-1.
After this we played good football, but severely lacked in the final 3rd. We do not learn from our mistakes and kept putting balls into the keeper that he was able to take easily.
9 games to go and a top 4 finish is the aim. We are not safe from relegation yet though so a massive response required next week boys – channel your sense of injustice into your performance next week.
Team – Bardgett, McLoughlin (Simpson), Munero, Jeator, Irvine (Cornibert), Hancock, Wilson, Wilding, Harvey, Hubbard (Manu), Nicholas.
