Surviving the Bourne supremecy
THERE was only three real talking points about the Gloucester game, two penalty decisions and a goal, the rest of the game was a none event thanks largely to the referee, Mr Bourne.
Talking point one happened just a few minutes into the game, Michael Clarke, eyes firmly fixed on the ball as it floats into the 18 yard box, is bundled to the floor by a the home number 9, the referee whistles and unbelievably points to the spot.
The spot kick is a good one, low and hard but the best keeper in the division gets down quickly and gets both hands to the ball 0-0.
Just a few moments later, talking point two.
At the other end of the pitch, Danny Lloyd is brought down from behind and the referee waves it away.
Talk of a conspiracy against County is rife in the away end, a more obvious penalty I’ve yet to see.
The pattern of the game was laid out in the first 10 minutes, the ref was a homer and we weren’t going to get anything out of the match.
There were several decisions that we should have been given but weren’t, handballs all over the pitch, goal kicks that were given when they were obvious corners and I lost count of the times the ball ran out for a throw-in, right in front of the linesman and nothing was given.
Talking point three and the highlight of the game, Jim makes a substitution – Jimmy Ball making way for Kaine Felix – and the young loanee makes an instant impact as his pace and first touch takes him past the Tigers left back, his second touch brings the ball under control and his third hammers the ball beyond the home keeper and into the net.
We then changed our tactics, we sat back and defended (I don’t know why either). We allowed Gloucester far too much of the ball but thankfully their strikers are going through a tough time (five defeats on the trot) and Ben Hinchcliffe had a relatively quiet afternoon.
Into the five minutes of added time was the most bizarre moment of the day, at one point both Felix and more worryingly Scott Duxbury were down injured and the home supporters sang “same old Stockport, always cheating”.
If Marine and Darlington manage to get together on Tuesday we’ll be back in Trophy action next week, if not I might be forced into Christmas shopping. I know where I’d rather be.