Saturday 10 December 2005

Grampound 0-3 Lanivet

(Duchy League Div 3)
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Grampound began well against the league favourites but the result of the game was determined in the first ten minutes by two incredibly bizarre refereeing decisions. These effectively decided the result and spoiled what would have been an excellent game. A ball was driven firmly at John Brooker from less than a yard, hitting his hand but clearly not intentional. There was no appeal but to everyone's surprise the referee awarded a penalty. The kick was duly converted. Minutes later a good Lanivet move freed a player on the edge of the Grampound area but the forward's shot past the advancing keeper Ford went outside the post. As a relieved Grampound readied themselves to take the resulting goal-kick, they were stunned to discover that a penalty had been awarded for the minor accidental collision between the forward and goalkeeper. Even the Lanivet forward and his colleagues were embarrassed to have been given such a gift. Maker's frustration with the referee got the better of him and it was no surprise when referee Mr Tucker showed him a red card for swearing. The penalty was hit against the post for the score to remain 1-0, but now with 10 men a hiding looked possible. To their credit, Grampound sleeves were rolled up and for the remainder of the half, although not creating any real chances, they matched their previously unbeaten opponents. On the stroke of half-time Lanivet extended their lead when the marking was not as good as it should have been and the error left a player free at the back post to sidefoot low into the net.

The second half was a surprise, as Grampound made most of the running and looked the better side despite the man short. Two good chances were created when defender Cooper headed inches wide and then his low hard cross behind the back four was met by Toms, who from close range diverted the ball for what looked a certain goal, only for the keeper to make an excellent save. A few minutes from the end a half-clearance landed at a Lanivet player's feet 20 yards out and his low shot managed to evade a forest of legs and Ford's dive to give Lanivet an extremely flattering win. Grampound's management were pleased with the performance but were left wondering what might have been had Mr Tucker not had a bd day with his decision-making and had been a little more consistent with his reaction to bad language by players.

Squad

1 Ford T
2 Harris
3 Leaney (sub Allen, 65)
4 Cooper
5 Weeks (sub Bawden, 75)
6 Webb J
7 Maker
8 Brooker, John
9 Toms
10 Cotterill
11 Ford G

Goals

Man of the Match

Stuart Harris

Yellow Cards

Cotterill, Ford G

Red Cards

Ryan Makerf the Match Yellow Cards Red Cards