Alligators lose at Culdrose…
January 15th, 2012 § Leave a Comment
Culdrose 3 Wendron Alligators 2
CHEATED NOT DEFEATED… That was how one of the Alligators parents described this game. Unquestionably it was a feeling felt by all Alligators parents, which included TWO F.A.REFEREES, but the score was 3-2!
As the Alligators coach I have to be more diplomatic, however there can be no disguising the fact that the home referee has employed his own interpretation of the F.A. Rules of play and his interpretation has had a direct impact on the outcome or any possible outcome of this game.
With twenty minutes to play in the second half and the score 2-2, an evenly balanced game took a bizarre twist which centered around a refereeing decision. The Alligators looked to have retaken the lead with a Sam Young shot. However a Culdrose player, not the goalkeeper, standing on the goal line jumped AND WITH TWO HANDS saved the ball !!
Now no one wants to see a young player sent off, but the rules are the rules and as the last man and a deliberate hand ball, preventing a goal, he had to go.
The referee, a very pleasent person, said that because the boys were only learning the game it would be unfair to send a player off.
Had the score been 5 or 6 -0, or we were not playing for points, I would have whole heartedly understood that the team winning would not receive any advantage by sending a youngster off.
However this game was poised at 2-2, with the Alligators playing up the hill against a fierce wind and the player staying on the field DID give the home side a distinct advantage.
To add insult to injury the penalty awarded was missed and Culdrose went up the other end and scored themselves.
Effectively the referees decision to add his own interpretation of the laws of the game would mean that two footed challenges, fighting, deliberate handballs etc, all punishable by a sending off, would also come under the banner of, “they are only learning”, so no punishment?
The Alligators continued to look for a way back but in truth after that decision they looked very demoralized.
After discussion, Chris Nash (team manager) and myself have decided that on behalf of the team amd the unhappy parents that the kernow league secretary should be made aware of the facts and then await their guidance.
Coach, Danny Everard.
