Week 3 of the season and the Shambles were hoping to build on last week's victory. Unfortunately the game was to become overshadowed by poor refereeing and a lack of discipline.
In the first minute it was all action. Shambles defended well against an early attack. Going straight back the other way, Craig made a pROBing run forward and from distance hit a shot into the net.
Shambles were using pacey defending to snuff out any BJH attempt to build up a head of steam'
Goooaaal.......Will.i.Am benefited from a BJH player hitting a pass back to hard, off the unsuspecting Will.I.Am and into the net.....2-0.
Craig was then a liitle ring rusty, failing to spot Will.I.Am in clear space on the far side. and ending up hitting a misdirected pass to nowhere as he was surrounded.
Next the "offensive defender" rushed back maing what was almost an illegal slide tackle, ROBing the BJH forward.
GOOOOAAAAL....and what a goal. Will picking up the ball just inside their half, in a central position, hit a perfectly placed shot which left the goal keeper rooted to the spot....3-0. ROBinho, ROBin Van Persie, ROBbie Blake, ROBbie Savage......EAT MY GOAL.
From hereon in, the game was at a pivotal point for a number of reasons. Lady Luck was now about to kick us in the balls.
A BJH player ended up kicking the ball way above head height. As the Shambles queried no award of a free kick, it was audible in the Gods that Graham the Ref said it has to be above the black line. That was a first anyway, but I think hwe must have been looking at the sealant around the sealing as it was almost level with us in the gallery??? Taking advantage of the confusion, BJH scored as the Shambles did not paly to the whistle which was never going to come. ...3-1....ROBbed.
The Shambles play became edgier as the cohesion was lost and the subs tried to get up to speed.
BJH hit one over the bar after sloppy defending. Players straying to0 far forward were leaving poor old ROB was left like General Custer at Little Big Horn as the oppo overlapped.
Dave fired a shot wide.
BJH struck again...3-2.
BJH were getting away with some dubious fouls which incensed Craig, but the ref claimed he had not seen. My view, frequently from the gallery, is that he sometimes enjoys the violent edge too much and fails to step in. Tempers building and the Shambles started getting caught up in the frustration.
A poor pass allowed BJH to equalise....3-3.
What had seemed impROBable at one point had become pROBable as BJH turned the tables in the first half.
An early bad pass in the second half from Dave who was on the edge of the area gave BJH an early goal 4-3. Nooooooooo
The rest of the football from the Shambles does not warrant extensive coverage as the reffing and theior own performance caused them to capitulate. Players tried too hard and lost shape and then leaked goals, conceding 3 more. At times players looked like they wanted to be elsewhere.
ROB got a chance to hit 2 shots at goal with the usual result, no goal.
The second half was marred by the ref's failure to deal with earlier offences. Craig, having been on the end of some bad tackles lost his cool and gave verbals resulting in being sent off. Continuing to protest he exited the gym via the other pitch.
My blood was boiling with the poor officiating. I wanted to bang the window just like I was watching on TV.
The frustration of the team imploding was also grating.
Congrats to will for again demonstrating a never die attitude and keeping his cool whilst most of those around him did not.
MANAGERS VERDICT: Great start. Poor decline.
A lack of early intervention and inconsistent decisions from the official influenced the game. Not for the first time.
It's no good lecturing players on discipline when you don't lead by example.
We take the defeat on the chin and Craig accepts a one match ban. Let's move on and learn. There was still the first 6 minutes to build upon. Don't go hunting for goals you don't need when you are 3 goals up. Learn PATIENCE and play with discipline in your positions.