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Match Report

Bodmin Dragon 3-2 Grampound

11th February 2023

Duchy League

Grampound began the first half with impressive intensity, putting the home side under real pressure.  The team looked dangerous with every attack but Bodmin defended well, including stopping goalbound efforts on the line on several occasions.  Danny Austin's corners looked a major threat and the first Grampound goal on 20 minutes came from one when Chris Warburton was shoved over.  Dean Dunn converted the resulting penalty kick.  Grampound went searching for a second goal but were caught out when a little slack marking allowed a Bodmin attacker to run into Grampound's penalty area and he ended up being fouled.  Again the spot kick resulted in a goal. With Ryan Morcom and Dylan Fox giving the home defenders a torrid time Grampound might have extended the lead on a few occasions before half time but  honours were even at the break. Grampound knew they had been the team who looked more like winning and that they needed to concentrate and put their chances away.
The chances certainly came for Grampound in the second half but it took until the 65th minute before Grampound re-took the lead. Ryan Morcom, returning to the team, battled away in the home goal area and managed to clear the keeper with the ball which gave him a tap-in for Grampound's lead again.  Soon after, Dan Riley, who has been immaculate all season, made an error and the ball ended up in Grampound's net to make the score 2-2.  Grampound had yet more chances to score but the home keeper made some good saves to deny them.  In the last minute the home side scored a very strange goal.  A tackle near the touchline resulted in the ball going out of play.  It was clear to everyone that a Bodmin player made the last contact with the ball.  As Grampound players moved up to take the throw, a Bodmin player picked the ball up and threw it in.  The referee bizarrely allowed play to continue and the move ended with the ball going in Grampound's net.  When the referee allowed the goal an incensed Grampound team found it hard to believe what had happened.  The referee blew the final whistle and when asked about the incident the referee said he did not know who touched the ball last for the throw.  And the linesman said, conveniently, that he was not looking.  Asked why, if none of the officials could make a decision, he allowed play to continue the referee gave no answer.   By convention in these circumstances,  the referee would award the throw to the defending team.  In this case he awarded it to the team who picked the ball up first.
It was a good full-blooded game and on balance Grampound were the far better team and deserved the win. Apologies from a number of our opponents about those decisions in the last minute of the game did not cut much ice.  Losing is one thing, but being beaten through cheating or incompetence is another completely.