PUTMAN FIRES UP THE JETS
REFEREE Christopher Flack was forced to run the gauntlet of incensed visiting fans at the end of a tumultuous contest after he had awarded Oxhey Jets a controversial match-saving penalty and refused Kingstonian one.
He also disallowed an effort that Kingstonian were convinced was over the line.
Eight minutes were added on by the official who booked five players, four from Kingstonian, in the skirmish that followed the penalty awarded after defender Declan Skurd had tangled with Lewis Putman, who remained calm midst the storm to slot away the spot kick.
It earned the Spartan South Midland league hosts a replay on Wednesday.
Kingstonian might have had no need of that inconvenience had the referee also given them a penalty when Elliott Buchanan fell under Jon Munday’s challenge. That provoked further uproar as did the decision not to permit Kingstonian a goal when Skurd’s effort appeared to cross the line.
“It was two yards over and he’s not given it,” said Kingstonian manager Hayden Bird. “Everything seems to have conspired against us.”
Of the fracas, Bird added: “Emotions were running high when decisions were that bad. When you think of the condition of the pitch and the performance of the referee, it’s fantastic to still be in the FA Cup.”
Bird denied he had been complacent by starting without joint top scorers Daniel Ajakaiye and Gus Sow, plus Nyren Clunis, another marksman responsible for the Isthmian League Premier Division leaders boasting a 100 per cent record. “Far from it,” Bird replied, but he was obviously aware of the disruption at Oxhey whose manager Stuart Atkins had walked out after his club’s 6-4 defeat by Arlesey in midweek, taking nine players with him.
However, it was obvious from the fourth minute when Jude Bell had a shot deflected over that Oxhey were in no way inhibited. The hosts responded well after Rhys Murrell-Williamson had cut in from the right to beat Rob Partington at his near post moments after the restart.
Oxhey were level by the 49th minute when Putman scored with a glorious header from Tom Gibson’s cross.
Murrell-Williamson regained Kingstonian’s lead at close range, converting Fabio Saraiva’s cross, before Putman got his second equaliser from the spot.
Then cue the mayhem... STAR MAN:
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