Seeing red over ‘horrific’ performance of referee
Jerry Gill labelled referee Michael Ryan’s performance as “horrific” as his side were held by Braintree Town.
The City manager’s ire was directed at the official for two major decisions going against his side, with a penalty appeal turned down after Correy Davidson appeared to swipe Cody Cooke’s foot from trying to clear Tom Smith’s header from a corner.
On 75 minutes Alfie Payne’s clumsy challenge on Callum Rowe when clean through on goal went unpunished when he could have seen red for a professional foul.
Neither team could find a breakthrough which resulted in Bath City’s first draw in 26 league matches, a run which stretched back to Boxing Day 2020.
“I’d forgotten that we hadn’t drawn yet,” admitted Gill. “It’s points dropped but not disappointment.
“I’m OK with the performance. We looked really good defensively. Jack (Batten) and Bally (Dan Ball) were great as a pairing. We were remarkable for the way we defended, they really came at us in the first ten minutes.
“The disappointment will be that we haven’t created too many open and clear chances, but it’s difficult when a back four sit in and defend deeply.
“We found pockets of space but couldn’t quite get those opportunities in the game.”
Braintree started the better of the sides and shooting down the slope with the wind behind them gave Ryan Clarke a few testing moments from corners in the opening stages.
Jordan Dyer’s header from Cooke’s byline cross just cleared the crossbar before Matt Johnson went closer for the visitors, a terrific half-volley from 25 yards which clipped the outside of the post.
On the cusp of half-time, Rowe’s corner was misjudged by Billy Johnson and in trying to turn in from Smith’s header, Cooke fell to ground from Davidson’s attempted challenge on the line.
“Tom Richards was sent off for the same thing,” said Gill, referring to the midfielder’s dismissal at Hampton & Richmond Borough four days prior.
“He struck the underside of his boot and he went over. It’s stonewall.
“The referee went to blow his whistle but didn’t. I don’t know why.”
Clarke comfortably tipped Luke Holness’s header over the bar five minutes after the restart.
Alex Fletcher was denied on the line by Davidson’s heroics, his strike from six yards following Joe Raynes’ corner superb kept out by the winger’s outstretched leg.
The main talking point arrived with 15 minutes remaining when Dan Ball’s pass was intelligently dummied by substitute Elliott Frear to leave Rowe clean through on goal.
Payne stepped across and held back the midfielder who went to ground, but referee Ryan was unmoved.
“I thought the referee was horrific today,” fumed Gill, who was cautioned from the bench on 88 minutes. “I’m speaking about it most weeks, so are most managers.
“The game was officiated around where you take your throw-ins, but when the big decisions come that’s when you want them to make those big calls.
“It’s not a biased thing, it’s an honest thing.
“When Callum went through his arm was pulled. The ball was two yards from him, why wouldn’t he stay on his feet?
“It’s two key moments which would have won us the game.”
Smith couldn’t cap a fine performance with his first league goal in over a year, driving into the sidenetting when left in space just inside the penalty area.
Davidson once again bailed his team out, throwing himself ahead of Zak Delaney’s drive to the back post with Raynes waiting for a tapin.
The heavily involved Braintree man then saw an inswinging corner batted against the bar by Clarke as Town looked happier to settle for a point despite it doing little favours in pulling clear of Essex rivals Billericay Town at the bottom.
“It’s like they won the World Cup with their celebrations,” said Gill. “They got what they wanted from the game.
“People need to remember we’re a young team still. We’ve got some good young footballers in there.
“We haven’t been able to pick a consistent team for many weeks. We’re hoping Omar (Holness) is back next week with Eddie Jones to strengthen it even more. Hopefully we manage to keep them fit.
“We’ve got some wonderful games coming up. I really look forward to them.
“There’s going to be 3,000+ at Maidstone next week. What a great game to play in. A good friend of mine in Hakan (Hayrettin) is doing a great job there.
“We go into it with something to build on having conceded too many in the week.”