Ref’s decision ruined game
Craig angered by poor standards
Head coach Tommy Craig bemoaned the refereeing performance which saw his side reduced to 10 players in a disappointing defeat at Spartans on Sunday.
Following last week’s thrilling 2-1 win over Celtic to earn them their first SWPL1 points of the season, the University were confident of success against Spartans.
But shortly after they pulled back to 2-1, an inexplicable decision by the referee saw a poor reaction from Stirling’s Rebecca Galbraith, which earned her a red card and a late goal for Spartans sealed the win in a bad tempered affair.
Aftewards Craig said: “Yet again we are talking about referee decisions ruining the game rather than the quality of the match itself!
“It has been a constant theme already this year and not just in our game. Every team in the SWPL is training more, has better qualified coaches, more resources for players.
The SWPL requirements aim to improve marketability of the game which involves a competitive league contributing to the national team’s success, but every week it is the same poor standard of refereeing, referees who have not developed at the same rate the game has.
“Many decisions were wrong,
Spartans Ladies .... 3 Stirling Uni ........... 1
including one where we were awarded a free kick for our own player tripping over the ball!
“But the big decisions all went against us without exception, to the extent where the Spartans players apologised after the game.”
In the early stages, Stirling had the better of the chances with striker Nicole Pullar causing the Spartans defence some problems. But they were not converted and an inconsistent awarding of free kicks was starting to rile both sets of players.
Spartans made the breakthrough in the 25th minute from the penalty spot and a second was added in 37 minutes.
Kerry Kennedy and Ashley McDonald came on at the break and Rachel Donaldson came close before Lisa Sutherland reduced the leeway when she hammered the ball home from 35 yards out.
Stirling pushed for the equaliser but the comeback was ended in the 62nd minute with Galbraith’s red card and the last 20 minutes was marred by a series of free kicks and ill tempered players and coaching staff on both sides.
Spartans scored goal number three in the 84th minute to claim all three points.
Next game is on Sunday, May 1 at home to Aberdeen Ladies at 2pm.