Evo-Stik NPL League East
The Moat Ground, Church Gresley
Saturday, 3rd November 2018, 3.00pm
Robbed!
Robbed, is the only word that comes to mind to describe the game at the Moat Ground as Gresley were denied a share of the points when an awful decision allowed Leon Mettam to score the winner despite being 2 yards off side when he received the ball.
Unfortunately, the assistant referee was so far behind the play that he missed the offence.
Gresley had fully deserved a point after playing 75 minutes with just 10 men after another frustrating decision from the referee who adjudged that Dexter Morris-Clarke’s strong but fair tackle deserved a straight red card much to the anger of the crowd and Gresley players.
After the game a furious Gary Norton could barely contain his anger at the officials made worse when the official observer allegedly agreed that the goal was offside!
Before the game a minute’s silence was immaculately observed for the Leicester City tragedy and for the fallen during the world’s conflicts.
Spalding made the early running with Ellis Humble putting a header wide from Leon Mettam’s corner.
Mettam was at the centre of a controversial moment when Morris-Clarke’s robust tackle on Mettam was penalised by referee Mr Hunt by a straight red card. What appeared to be a very harsh decision was received by the unfortunately disappointingly low turnout, with boos and whistles as the home crowd thought the tackle was not a red card offence. That moment turned the game in the visitors’ favour and Gresley had to dig deep for 75 minutes.
Not only did they dig deep defensively but began to force the visitors back with a series of corners and Lucas Harrison firing his shot from the left just wide of the far post.
Gresley went close again two minutes later and this time Harrison was the provider picking out Alex Steadman who put his header wide of the far post.
The home side continued to press with Kane Lee’s scissor kick being grabbed by Spalding keeper at his far post.
Spalding should have taken the lead with a couple of golden chances. The first was almost handed, or rather passed, to them when keeper Oliver Fairbrother totally miss kicked a clearance and the ball fell to Mettam who somehow managed to put his shot wide of a huge gaping open goal.
The second also involved Mettam but his well-placed free kick was superbly pushed away as it headed to the top corner of the net.
Early in the second half Steadman went close with his shot on the turn well saved by Michael Duggan but Kieran O’Connell couldn’t get the ball from under his feet to capitalise on the rebound giving Duggan the chance to smother the ball.
On 70 minutes James Hugo went close for the visitors shooting past the far post but the most controversial moment ten minutes later gave Spalding the lead.
Spalding’s familiar long high ball from defence sent Mettam racing forward from an offside position and with Gresley players expecting the whistle and the assistant referee so far behind the play, Mr Hunt allowed Mettam to continue his run and slip the ball past Fairbrother.
The crowd and Gresley players were furious with the decision made worse by the over-the-top celebrations from Mettam.
To rub salt in the wounds, as the players left the pitch Dominic Allen received a second yellow card and subsequently a red for criticising the referee. There were 160 odd who would have agreed with his comments!
