|
Post by timbo on Jan 24, 2015 17:10:46 GMT
Damn!
|
|
|
Post by sallycat on Jan 24, 2015 18:00:55 GMT
One of the worst pitches I've seen us play on... not a pretty game.
|
|
markf
Top Performer
Posts: 3,182
|
Post by markf on Jan 24, 2015 19:44:23 GMT
I know we have been commemorating WWI over the past year but did H&W need to go that far with their playing surface? Truly awful and considering they spent a few bob on it a couple of years ago. Much of the bottom half was nigh on unplayable throughout and explained why the home side went long in the first half.
By the interval, U's were 2-0 up. Ricky W did brilliantly to first engineer a shooting opportunity and then strike his effoort against the post for Dan Fitchett to pounce. The second came from a mix up between a home defender and the 'keeper and Fitch's perseverance.
U's went close a couple of other times as the home side toiled for much of the half.
The second half started with H&W looking more of a threat on the decent half of the pitch. Enter the referee, who previously had enjoyed a decent afternoon. Firstly he booked Dundo for a so-so challenge. Then he sent off Ciardini for a challenge on Glen Southam. Yes, it was late, the fella did look to have left the ground and there was an arm out but not sure if it was a red. Then, for the second time this season, he awards a dodgy penalty against us. From my unobstructed view, Scanners clearly won the ball, actually controlled it before their fella went over. Up went the crowd & the man in black duly obliged. This was the guy, I am told, who dismissed Spills against Bath and we know how that went on appeal.
As I have said before, goals change games and the penalty was duly converted. H&W were back in it and they equalised. We gave the ball away cheaply but their sub still had a lot to do and not for the first time this season an opponent has scored a goal of the season strike against it. It was quite brilliant.
So 2-2, which most would have taken before hand and on the balance of play was probably right. Once again though a poor refereeing decision has gifted the oppo a goal and while they may be very unhappy with the red, I'd have been happier for it to be 11 v 11 and 2-0 for far longer than 10 v 11 & 2-1. It gave them a fighting chance which they took.
Good to see Whitey and Binnsy get a run out today and this was an half decent performance against a side in the top half who we made look very ordinary in the first period on a poor surface which they perhaps should be spending more money on rather than big signings like Ben Wright. As for the ref, incapable of maintaining the standard required for 90 mins and effecting the result of the match into the bargain. Not good enough.
Onto HH for another tough fixture, any chance of getting a ref who knows the difference between a good challenge and a foul we've not had one against them either this season?
|
|
|
Post by os on Jan 24, 2015 20:55:10 GMT
The pitch was truly awful, I have my doubts that it was actually playable, if not a little dangerous. The referee gave no quarter to the conditions and made what my untrained eye can only be considered as some embarrassing decisions. The booking on Dundo, was never a caution, the sending off was imaginary by the official, and the penalty decision has left me questioning my own mind, as it just looked like a run of the mill clearance to me. 2 mins later we were on the break in midfield, player bought down to stop the move, no card. Being honest here the game needs officials but this guy isn't fit to ref at any level. As for our performance very confident in the 1st half deservedly 2 up at the break, Fitch looking the perfect striker, but we didn't cope against the long ball and their pace in the 2nd half. Gifted a way back in to the game by the ref, their 2nd was a great goal but its not the first time we have paid for not closing down this season. Even with the pitch and dodgy pen, we can't hide the fact that we are not very good against 10 men teams. I am not sure when we last won a match against 10 men. With that said our team is well on the mend, great to see Binnsy out there, and 4pts from Havant is a really good return. Something from Hemel and a win next week is what the doctors has ordered
|
|
|
Post by cliveo7 on Jan 24, 2015 22:02:35 GMT
Excellent 1st half, we played some great stuff, as everyone has said the pitch was very poor, huffed & puffed in the 2nd half.... Still a great away point.... Come on you u's ⚽️⚽️⚽️
|
|
|
Post by Del on Jan 24, 2015 22:14:36 GMT
Good first half up until we scored the scored the second goal.We then appeared to take our foot off the gas and try & cruise.Second half Havant came out fired up and gave it a good go.Wellard went off with what looked like an injury and i'm surprised we didn't replace like for like and replace him with a winger.We seem to lose shape after that and never created much.
|
|
|
Post by Amber Aleman on Jan 25, 2015 0:11:15 GMT
In answer to OS's query, our last win against ten men was at Hereford in the Trophy less than two months ago. But my quick tally of goals over the last year when we had a man advantage (Dover, Hereford, Merstham, H&W) is F2,A6. Not a record to be proud of!
Up until the red card we'd been the better side, although H&W did rather gift us our second goal and did enough at the other end to suggest they were capable of staging a comeback. The penalty - awarded a few minutes after the sending-off - brought them back into the game, and after that our play became increasingly ragged as we rarely looked like adding the third goal that would probably have killed off the contest. The equaliser was a great strike, though it did rely on a clanging assist from the goal-frame.
At least we've got another awkward fixture behind us - that's seven of our ten matches against the current top five now played (plus the two against Ebbsfleet). Let's hope that Dan Fitchett's brace and Jamie White's return herald an improvement in our goal-scoring rate.
|
|
|
Post by exiledsufc on Jan 25, 2015 9:16:01 GMT
Although their second goal was a good strike,we never closed the player down again,and it cost us,instead of going toward the player and stopping him getting his shot in,the defence backed away,with no one attempting to tackle him.i have lost count of the number of times we have gifted teams goals that way.on the plus side,we now have a natural goalscorer in Dan Flitchett,took both chances well,and Ricky Welland had a great game until the injury,hope it is not to serious
|
|
|
Post by os on Jan 25, 2015 12:06:09 GMT
Although their second goal was a good strike,we never closed the player down again,and it cost us,instead of going toward the player and stopping him getting his shot in,the defence backed away,with no one attempting to tackle him.i have lost count of the number of times we have gifted teams goals that way.on the plus side,we now have a natural goalscorer in Dan Flitchett,took both chances well,and Ricky Welland had a great game until the injury,hope it is not to serious I think earlier in the season not closing down and letting players have a shot or get in a cross without a challenge was sloppy or down to the lack of quality. But there has been a change in recent games with bodies being put online to get in between the player and the ball, St Albans and in particular Ebbsfleet. I am going to give our boys the excuse of the pitch yesterday, it must have been like running on cobble stones. Havant did the right thing and freshened the attack, and made it really difficult for us at the back in the last 20 mins.
|
|
|
Post by Stewart on Jan 25, 2015 13:35:31 GMT
|
|
|
Post by johnnie1 on Jan 25, 2015 15:06:43 GMT
Elsewhere yesterday there was major controversy as Eastbourne's late equaliser vs Wealdstone went in through the side netting - but the ref didn't realise and gave the goal!
|
|
|
Post by johnnie1 on Jan 25, 2015 15:20:13 GMT
|
|
markf
Top Performer
Posts: 3,182
|
Post by markf on Jan 25, 2015 19:28:44 GMT
First of all, he ref wasn't the guy who sent Spills off (teach me for listening to second hand info). He was actually the fella we had at home to Bromley last season and he was excellent. A mad 5 mins yesterday afternoon changed the game.
As for their manager reckoning that was a pen yesterday, well, I hope he's had a look a the film since and may want to re-consider that. A shocking decision and a comment that doesn't show Mr Bradbury in the best of light.
As for the red card, no way.
|
|
|
Post by os on Jan 25, 2015 20:26:37 GMT
I am no ref, but I am at a loss on some of the decisions I have this season! How could that be a penalty, when the Havant player runs into Scans standing foot and launches himself in to orbit? As for the red surely anyone with a collection of brain cells over 2 can see exactly what happened there?
The Eastbourne goal yesterday, the penalties v Bath and Hemel, the one not given when Jessie was clattered by the keeper, and the list just goes on and on. Match officials are now dictating who wins and who loses!!
|
|
billy
1st team skipper
Posts: 2,626
|
Post by billy on Jan 25, 2015 20:43:21 GMT
Shocking decisions.Southam didn't do their bloke any favours though , collapsing into a coma like state. Did he recover when the red card was brandished ?
|
|