CHALKED OFF GOAL IRKS BOSS STIMSON
MARK STIMSON has told his Hornchurch hopefuls there’s no time to feel sorry for themselves despite falling victim to a bizarre offside decision that has taken the Isthmian Premier title out of their hands.
The Urchins thought Sam Higgins had put them 3-1 ahead with nine minutes to go of last weekend’s clash with Horsham after the striker seized on a blind backpass.
Video, now seen on tiwitter more than 2.5million times, shows Horsham’s Lee Harding take the ball back into his own half before hitting a low pass back towards his keeper that Higgins intercepts and walks into an unguarded goal.
But it was ruled out by the officials, seemingly for offside, before Horsham went straight up the other end to grab an equaliser and, with two minutes left, find a winner.
Defeat saw Stimson’s side fall two points behind Bishop’s Stortford and above Canvey Island and Aveley on goal difference with four games to go.
“Unfortunately it’s happened at such a crucial time of the season,” Stimson said. “In that game, we’re winning 2-1 and we go 3-1 up with nine minutes to go – you’d like to think we go on to win that game, it’s another one chalked off and we stay top of the league.
“To have the goal disallowed and then obviously go on to lose them game, drop into second place, is a hard one to take.
“I just have everything crossed it doesn’t affect the end of the season by three points because then that is a massive kick in the teeth for us. I feel as though I was robbed on Saturday, I don’t know how else to describe it. I’ve watched it so many times and you can clearly see him pass the ball back.
“I am baffled the referee didn’t see it and I am also very surprised the linesman my side told me after he’s not allowed to get involved in anything in the other half of the pitch.
“Listen, we all make mistakes. We do. This one was blatant and how the officials couldn’t correct it is mind boggling.
“As much as I’ve got fed up talking about it, it could cost us the title. That’s as big as it could be. We were stunned after but we were back at training on Tuesday and said, ‘Listen, all we can do is try and win every game and hopefully that’s enough’. It’s out of our hands. It is what it is.”
Stimson and a member of his bench were shown red cards for protesting the decision on the pitch.
The club have submitted a letter to the FA explaining their point of view but the former Grays, Stevenage and Gillingham boss expects they will be punished.
“I just hope the FA can understand the emotions we were feeling,” Stimson said. “It just hurts when something like that happens. I understand the rules – I left my technical area so I will probably be punished. But we scored a goal and we will be punished?”