BROADWELL AMATEURS 0-0 GALA WILTON: THE MATCH REPORT & THE WAY THE DAY TURNED OUT...

 Controversy Affords Broadwell A Point At Home…

Broadwell Amateurs 0-0 Gala Wilton

I liked the trip south, driving through Goodrich and along the River Wye, which I had canoed along from Glasbury to Tintern Abbey when I was at PE College… Chris, the Broadwell Twitter person welcomed me in the car-park, wearing his incongruous Notts County jacket and it was pleasing to note the decent set-up. However, despite the fact that I had volunteered to film highlights of the match (not many of those, in truth…), as well as write a full match report, produce photos and also screenshots, I was forced to pay for entrance as a spectator. I indicated pleasantly that I was there to film the game but I was informed with some sarcasm that the club would ‘see what the film was like’, as my coins were dropped into a random plastic bucket. Thanks for that… So, in effect, I had paid for the privilege of doing the work, then spending a good deal of my Sunday writing, collating and posting it all… I was amazed at the attitude I was confronted by… Good job I had a small amount of cash in my pocket.

LEWIS, RIGHT, IS AMUSED BY THE REFEREE'S TRICK OF MAKING HIS COIN DISAPPEAR.
(IT'S PROBABLY IN A PLASTIC BUCKET AT THE ENTRANCE...)

Pre-game, one of the Gala coaching staff made clear to me his displeasure with the Gloucestershire County League’s decision to remove lines-persons from matches, meaning of course that a representative from each club has to ‘assist’ the referee. And my word, how that statement reared its head late in this match to bite his team… A finish by Gala’s leading goalscorer Ryan Dobbins was chalked off in rather uncomfortable and thought provoking circumstances with moments remaining in a tight, untidy, often depressing encounter, which neither team really deserved to win.

Few chances were created and when they were, the shooting was profligate, except for a decent try by Broadwell’s wily defender Kris Burnard and two shots by forward Danny Latham, both of which brought saves from visiting goalie Dan Brabham. Rather weak finishing by both Dobbins and Martin Smith for Gala, a blocked drive by James Bowers, plus a few shots off target were the only efforts worth mentioning by the guests, to be fair. Too much long kicking spoilt any passing rhythm and Brabham kicked several of his clearances straight through to opposite number Steve Bowles, which must have been frustrating for Dobbins, Smith and Gaynor.

WHAT HAPPENED TO SOCIAL DISTANCING, REF?

Certainly, for the hosts, Joel Letori, Jordi Locke and Billy Guest attempted to pass the ball but moves broke down too often, largely due to some strong defending by Gala’s Peter Boyle and especially Dan McNally, one of three Dans in the Gala starting eleven. Jack Holmes was bright for the visitors, Craig Howell was, er, combative and did well to avoid a caution but much of this contest was genuinely forgettable…

Before the break, The Well managed a volley wide of the near post by Charlie Powell from a free-kick delivery by Locke, plus a Harry Williams drive which struck McNally, apparently in the face or head but perhaps he recovered too quickly to settle any remaining doubts that the ball had struck an arm. I have no idea… The best shot was when a McNally clearance fell for Burnard, 20 yards from goal and his well struck rising shot was turned over the horizontal bar to safety by Brabham, whose handling was good throughout. 

SOMEONE IS FIRING FREE BEANIE HATS OVER THE PITCH...

The guests fared little better, for only a Boyle shot which rose very high like an NFL extra point, a lofted header by Dobbins from Brad Loveridge’s centre and two efforts by Gaynor relieved the general turmoil. Gaynor’s angled shot at the left post flew wide of the near stick and another cross-shot flew past the far upright. Thus half-time arrived and the players disappeared for a milk-shake and a chocolate biscuit, some spectators donned masks to buy beer and others simply took the air…

There was a second period improvement, just, for Williams became more involved offensively for the hosts and Dobbins did the same for the guests. A couple of Williams headers were off target, whilst a decent shot by him was caught by Brabham, who then saved a low effort by the striker, although a flag was waving for offside, in reality. A wild Locke shot from downtown rose way off target, replacement Dan Brain lifted an effort for Brabham to catch beneath his crossbeam but it was the industrious Latham who forced the Gala’ gloveman to make two better saves. A 24 yard free-kick was smartly caught by Brabham who then plunged down at his near, right post to keep out a slightly angled effort by the Broadwell forward. 

A PAIR OF TENS...

Gala had seen a Bowers shot blocked by Schiller, Smith was unable to get a touch to a low right-side delivery in front of goal and later he poked a slow shot straight at Bowles. A Burnard back-pass was then chased by Gaynor and Bowles advanced to kick the ball against the Gala man, looking somewhat relieved to see the ball careering wide of the right stick. And there was Dobbins…

The Gala skipper could get no touch to a right flank centre at the far post, although eager home right-back Jack Meredith’s presence probably caused the problem for Dobbins, then the striker was unable to get purchase on a close-range shot when Howell’s free-kick was nodded across goal by Gaynor. Dobbins then swung a boot at another low assist from 15 yards but the ball drifted past the left vertical and really it looked like the game was petering out into an inevitable goal-less tie…

A PAIR OF THREES...

However, Boyle’s long clearance sent Dobbins racing forth alongside the larger Lewis, with both the referee and his assistant having to move upfield to cover the action. Burnard’s pace helped him to reach Lewis’ side, leaving Dobbins on their left, all three hustling on the left edge of the 18 yard line, whereupon Burnard’s boot shoved the ball against the stumbling and unsuspecting Dobbins, probably his arm, or hand, but clearly inadvertently. The trio’s positioning would most surely have hidden what had occurred to a lines-person on the far touchline, angled just behind the action in his attempt to get level with the play. Dobbins then flicked the ball past the despairing Bowles, celebrated in joyous fashion and the goal was awarded by the referee.

Subsequently however, Bowles and his fellow defenders waved their arms like windmill sails to appeal for ‘hands’ against the rather surprised Dobbins. The referee was encouraged to go and speak to his assistant which he did, despite the rather unfortunate fact that the lines-person was Broadwell’s appointed flag-holder… A qualified official, wearing the black kit he might have been but there was certainly a conflict of interest here and a dangerous precedent was being set, never mind that the assistant’s view could not have been conclusive in the slightest.  

The referee awarded a free-kick for use of a hand against Dobbins and the match ended 0-0. Ironic, after what the Gala coach spoke about before the match began…

I can only represent the facts from a neutral point of view but when lines-persons are chosen from a club’s own representatives, surely the referee alone must take full responsibility for the awarding of free-kicks, as well as being very careful which offside decisions seem legitimate. Decisions about throw-ins could then be left to the ‘assistants’, leaving less scope for ‘emotional' flag lifting by these ‘chosen’ lines-persons… 

Just sayin’…

I CAN SEE THE GALA LINES-PERSON...

Really liked Burnard’s and Lewis’ performances for The Well, but Locke was a beaverish midfielder, supporting the creative Letori well. Powell was lively, Williams was willing but Latham was the one who went close to scoring with the aforementioned efforts. Full-backs Meredith and Schiller were strong too and Guest never stopped working…

Holmes and McNally did good things for Gala and Brabham’s handling was safe, for he regularly caught the ball, something one can’t often say about ‘keepers at this level. Dobbins must feel hard done by…

I would have done, too…

TEAMS:

BROADWELL AMATEURS:

STEVE BOWLES, JACK MEREDITH, BEN SCHILLER, KRIS BURNARD, GREG LEWIS (CAPT), JOEL LETORI, JORDI LOCKE, BILLY GUEST, HARRY WILLIAMS, DANNY LATHAM, CHARLIE POWELL.

SUBS:

GUY JONES, REECE BOWKETT, MARSHALL HOPKINS, BEN FISHWICK, DAN BRAIN.

GALA WILTON:

DAN BRABHAM, BRAD LOVERIDGE, JAMES BOWERS, DAN MCNALLY, PETER BOYLE, JACK HOLMES, JORDAN MOLYNEUX, CRAIG HOWELL, RYAN DOBBINS, MARTIN SMITH, DAN GAYNOR.

SUBS:

BEN SLUMAN, JAY DARE, ESSA SABALLY, KEIRON MACE, ANDREW MOODY.