Home
Sports latest
Football
Rugby
Cricket
Bromsgrove Rovers
News
Reports
Profiles
Junior sports
Pictures
Worcestershire CCC
National Sport
Free websites
Site Map
Search Advanced Search
Reports  RSS Feed RSS feed | About

Brought to you by Bromsgrove Advertiser
EDITOR'S CHOICE
LATEST NEWS
Ben - lucky to live to tell the tale
Anger over cut to vital service
Snowy trek helps local centre
LATEST SPORT
Brown leads by example
Duo net top awards
Scott’s series debut
GET OUR NEWS BY E-MAIL
Most read Comments
Fury at late ref call
DENIED: Richard Ball put the ball in the Mangotsfield net but the referee had already blown for full-time.
DENIED: Richard Ball put the ball in the Mangotsfield net but the referee had already blown for full-time.

Mangotsfield 1
Rovers 1


REFEREE Marvin Amphlett felt the wrath of Duane Darby and his Rovers players, who believe they were robbed of three points on Saturday.

It beggars belief how the game ended in a draw after two controversial calls from the Kidderminster-based official.

Both sides were presented with opportunities to snatch all three points only to see them taken away in a flash.

Karl Lewis foiled Mangotsfield's Jon French, after a penalty was belatedly awarded for an infringement by Gary Knight.

And Mr Amphlett might have wished he had bought his tin hat with him after he controversially blew for full-time just as Richard Ball set himself to strike a Rovers winner.

It wasn't so much rash judgement by the referee that fuelled the anger of the Greens' players and coaching staff.

Particularly in the case of the injury-time winner that never was, it was the poor timing.

The game was approaching its 94th minute when a Lewis clearance landed perfectly for Ball.

But as the striker directed a lob over poorly positioned Field goalkeeper Josh Clapham, he had the rug pulled from under his feet by the sound of the final whistle.

Incensed Rovers boss Darby made his feelings known.

He said: "I've had my stop watch on it and Burge (Daryl Burgess) has asked him how long left.

"As soon as the keeper got it in his hands he said a minute.

"If they are going to blow, they blow when the keeper has kicked it and it's in the air.

"They don't blow when it has bounced and the forward is about to shoot. It is criminal and for him to do that I think he needs to look at himself.

"It has cost us three points and I hope he looks at that and realises it."

Deep down Darby may concede that a winning goal would have been harsh on the home side.

Rovers found it difficult to settle on a pitch which resembled a mud-filled pinball machine, throwing passes off course and making a mockery of any attempt to control the ball.

And after commanding defensive performances against Hemel Hempstead and Chippenham, the Greens were guilty of an early lapse in concentration which allowed Mangotsfield to take the lead.

Just two minutes were on the clock when Gary Thorne was given space to direct Mark McKeever's corner into the corner of the net.

It signalled a wake-up call, and the Greens repeated Mangotsfield's feat of scoring with their first attack.

Kevin Banner crossed early from the left and Ball flicked into the path of Leigh Downing, who controlled the ball before cutting in and driving a fierce shot beyond Clapham.

However, as with their last two outings, Rovers were thankful for Lewis' goalkeeping.

Knight challenged Alan Griffin in the air and headed clear, but as the referee allowed play to continue he was forced to go back on his decision when the linesman flagged for a penalty.

French stepped up and Lewis got down early to his left to beat away the spot-kick.

After getting out of jail, Rovers should have punished the Field for squandering their golden opportunity.

Ball had the ideal opportunity on 67 minutes.

A weak goal kick from Clapham went straight into Downing's path, and he picked out Ball who stayed on-side but sent his effort over the bar.

Unfortunately for Ball he left it too late to find his touch - seconds too late infact.

When presented with a similar opportunity from Lewis' injury time clearance, the striker mastered the art of beating Clapham, but he was unable to beat the sound of the full-time whistle.

MANGOTSFIELD: Clapham, Bailey (Douglas, 71 mins), Allward, Thorne, Ball, Jerwood (Criddle, 73 mins), Arndale, French, Griffin, Reid, McKeever. Unused subs: Mowatt, Crew, Kiglow.

ROVERS: Lewis 7, McHale 7, Duggan 5, Alsop 7, Knight 6, Burgess 6, Downing 7 (Albutt 5, 88 mins), Bridgwater 7, Ball 6, Cornes 5 (Jakab, 66 mins), Banner 5. Unused: Benbow, Hines, Mole.

Referee: Mr M.Amphlett. Attendance: 184.

9:01am Wednesday 6th February 2008

Print   Email this   Comment
Add your comment
Please note: to publish your comment you must be registered on this site. If you are already registered, please enter your details below.
Email:
Password:
Archive

Advertisements appearing in this week's
Bromsgrove & Droitwich Spa Advertiser


Regal Bromsgrove'
Weather - 5 Day Forecast
Order your copy now
Terms & Conditions
Privacy Policy © Copyright 2001-2008
Newsquest Media Group
A Gannett Company
This site is part of Newsquest's audited local newspaper network