MANAGER Paul Smith has described the disallowed goal which denied his side victory at Coventry Copeswood as the ‘strangest decision’ he had ever seen on a football pitch.
Bromsgrove Sporting appeared to have secured a dramatic 2-1 win on Tuesday night when they scrambled home the winner in the fourth minute of added time.
However, the Rouslers’ delight quickly turned to despair as the referee ruled it out after consulting his linesman – despite initially giving the goal.
Sporting boss Smith was left incensed by the decision and felt the Coventry-based official was “intimidated” by the Copeswood players.
“I am not one to be critical of referees as it is a tough job, but to drop that sort of clanger is massive,” he said.
“Our performance was not brilliant, but at the end of the day we have scored a perfectly good goal in my opinion, which was wiped off because he felt intimidated by the reaction he got from the Copeswood players immediately afterwards.
“He then went and spoke to the linesman who said he wasn’t sure, so if you have awarded a goal as a referee and you are happy in your mind it has been scored you should not let anyone change your mind.
“I can only think that he has been intimidated.
“He then awarded a drop ball, which I cannot understand either. If he is not going to award a goal then fair enough, but if it didn’t cross the line, the centre half has punched the ball in frustration so it should have been a penalty.
“It is one of the strangest decisions I have ever seen in football.”
The decision also extended Sporting’s run of draws in Midland Football League Division One to three which now leaves them seven points adrift of leaders Highgate United.
However, with Sam Wills, Reece Hewitt and Simon Fitter all expected to return to face Pelsall Villa tomorrow (Saturday), Smith said he was confident his side would bounce back.
“As much as it is another draw, we are still on a 17-game unbeaten run in the league and in the five months of me being here we have lost just one league game,” Smith added.
“We have got Pelsall on Saturday and we will see what we can do there. They are an improving side, but we should have Reece Hewitt, Sam Wills and Simon Fitter all back available, which will make a big difference.”
