UniBond League Division One
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Saturday, 13th January 2007, 3.00pm
Daylight Robbery!
Gresley Rovers can consider themselves extremely unlucky to come away from this game without a share of the points at the very least. Two decisions by the officials turned this game that the home side had controlled for large periods.
The first half was a scrappy affair with neither sides creating many clear-cut chances and both looking a little ring rusty after an enforced layoff.
Bamber Bridge were the first to attempt to create something but Gresley keeper Tommy Whittle made a comfortable save low down at his near post from Danny Mahoney's shot.
An assistant referee flagging for off side after a great break by the visitors ended the best move of the first half.
The referee made the first of two very poor decisions on 34 minutes when Mark Smith made his way into the area where he picked out Paul Edwards. Edwards hit a first time shot that was blocked by Stuart Horn with the use of his arms. While the referee was telling the Gresley striker of his decision Carl Slater appeared to be upended also in the box this time the assistant missed the foul.
On 41 minutes Edwards hit a vicious shot that was blocked after Liam Hebbered had picked him out from the right.
Gresley's Shaun Ridgway went close for Gresley flashing a shot just wide of the post almost on the halftime whistle.
The second half opened in spectacular fashion as Gresley took the lead. Within a few seconds of the half starting Mark Smith found Paul Edwards who controlled the ball before firing a low shot across keeper David Newnes and into the far corner of the net.
Bridge hit back almost immediately but Whittle was on form to pull off a superb save getting a hand to Paul Lloyd's goal bound shot.
On 52 minutes the second controversial decision by referee Richard Smith came when Horn blatantly blocked Tom Groves' far post header with the use of his upraised arms after the midfielder was picked out by Mark Smith's cross. The official waved away the protests much to the anger of the players and home supporters.
On 64 minutes Bridge levelled. Ryan Salmon slipped through on goal and it looked a certainty that he would scored but Whittle again made a very good block but he could do nothing to prevent Alex Porter from slotting home the rebound.
Bridge grabbed the winner on 77 minutes with their second chance of the half when a cross from Porter found Salmon unmarked at the far post. Salmon sent a looping header back across the goal and into the far corner leaving Whittle helpless.
The afternoon went for bad to worse for Gresley when Barry Woolley, who had been sent up front to try and salvage a point, was ordered off the field by the referee for his second yellow card which was showed to the big defender for simulation as he tumbled over a defender's tackle in the area.
Manager's View
"I feel on the balance of the game we certainly deserved at least a point. It hasn't helped that we've not defended one of the only two situations we've had to defend in the second half and they've got a couple of goals.
"For me there where two absolute nailed on penalties on in the first half and one in the second at key stages of the game that have cost us at least a point today and cost us our unbeaten record. I'm fuming with the officials to be honest.
"I have no arguments with Barry's (Woolley) sending off. He got a yellow card for getting involved in something off a set play and there's been a lot of publicity about simulation or diving and it was a tad embarrassing to be honest for Barry's and he's apologised - he was trying to make contact with there guy's leg but the guy didn't go through with the tackle. The referee had no option in going to the letter of the law.
"It's a little bit disappointing to lose the unbeaten run at home. We've played worse this season and won games. We looked a little bit rung rusty in all honesty but having got ourselves ahead at home I thought we were going to kick on and defend like we have defended in this run and certainly take something from this game.
"To lose the game, and I'm not taking anything away from Bamber Bridge who worked very, very hard and have scored a couple of decent goals where they've reacted to things and they've gone away with a decent three points.
"I felt there was the opportunity of at least a point there. The officials shirking their responsibility for two penalties. The second one was absolutely nailed on. The linesman agreed with me from this side. The referee has just tried to con me in there saying our number seven Tom Groves agreed with the decision. But Tom's just said he headed the ball back across and the guy's arms are above his head and it's hit the underside of his arm and when you've got three officials on the pitch and they miss two massive decisions like that it's disappointing.
"But, on the flip side of that this referee is one who will have a chat after the game and we've just had a chat in the dressing room. He's not one of those arrogant ones that shun you and he's said if he's made a mistake he's made a mistake. He's enjoyed the game; it's been competitive, he's a decent referee but he's made two massive mistakes today.
"I looked round on the bench after going two-one down and we've tried to bring a striker in but I haven't been able to do so. It's the second game on the trot that we've thrown one of the big guys up front - centre half - to try and get back into the game and both of them have been sent off! Matt Millns when we were one down at Belper and now Barry today. It's not helped with Colin picking up his fifth booking in injury time with a silly one to be honest for my skipper so we will be missing both Barry and Colin Hoyle for the game in two weeks time."
