PRAISE FOR ‘WALK-IN’ GOAL

Sportsmanship is alive and kicking in the Express Autocentre Maidstone & Mid Kent Sunday League.

Division 1 basement side Crosskeys took a 2-1 lead against White Horse on Sunday but the goal was scored while the goalkeeper was down injured.

Despite being in desperate need of points, Crosskeys then allowed White Horse to score an uncontested goal, to square the match up at 2-2. White Horse went on to win 4-2.

White Horse player-manager Ian Knight saluted the Crosskeys attitude. incident happened when keeper Aaron Fellows picked up a leg injury after punching clear a corner. Callum Blackman fired into the empty net, not aware that the keeper was down.

Crosskeys secretary Rhys Bingham said: “We’ve always been a fair team and never realised the keeper was down when we scored.

“We had a discussion and said they could score because of goodwill and sportsmanship. We want to win fair and square.

“We wanted the goal cancelled at first but the referee said he couldn’t do it so we allowed them to score unchallenged.”

Fellows had to be substitured, replaced by outfield player Craig Whalin and when play resumed, White Horse’s Sean O’Mera walked home the ball from the kick-off.

Steve Taylor, secretary of the league, was delighted with the Crosskeys decision.

He said: “Crosskeys are bottom of the division and could have done with keeping out the goals but they showed fantastic sportsmanship.

“It was nice to see. Sometimes doing the right thing is more important than winning.”

Matt Boughton was the man officiating the game and Mr Taylor said the referee had no alternative but to award the goal.

He said: “There was nothing he could have done. The goal went in and he couldn’t tell the other team to let one in. It was a lovely gesture by the team.”