Barrel
31-12-2006, 14:55
Before I jot down my notes on yesterday's Fenland derby I would like to dedicate this match report to a certain Mr Chris Judge who I am led to believe relishes reading my weekly reports, this one's for your xxx
RAMSEY TOWN 4
WHITTLESEY UNITED 3
Cricket Field Lane
Att: 71
A bumper crowd saw Whittlesey United lose for the first time in eight games at a rain soaked Cricket Field Lane on Saturday, to their Fenland counterparts Ramsey Town.
The holiday season's festivities obviously had little effect on these two sets of players as they competed in an exhilarating match that was a great spectacle for Combination League 1 football.
Ramsey had the better of the opening exchanges with two lively wingers penetrating the Whittlesey full backs to full effect. The home side took the lead after 20 minutes when their centre forward Anderson belted home from close range after Whittlesey had failed to clear in the penalty area. The home side nearly went two up just moments later when a ball was squared across goal but luckily failed to find any oncoming home players.
This scare seemed to fire the young Whittlesey side into action and they started to play some neat football, a ball into the box from wide left was met by Whittlesey top goalscorer Ryan SMITH who acutely headed home past the home keeper. Whittlesey were now in full flow and were tearing at the home side like a pack of rampant wild dogs. Combative midfielder Graeme ROBINSON fed a good ball into the path of striker Micky BURCH who swivelled on a six pence to elude two Ramsey defenders, and as everyone waited with baited breath for him to strike at goal, he cleverly fed the ball sidewards into the path of centre back Adam SAMMONS who had made a 'Beckenbauer-Esque' run from the Whittlesey back line and slotted into the bottom corner of the net to the delight of the away bench.
The half time whistle was blown shortly after Whittlesey's second goal and the sides headed into the break with the score 2-1 Whittlesey.
The second half started scrappily with both sides slugging it out on a mudbath of a football pitch and in front of the floodlights. Again Ramsey started the better but Whittlesey regained momentum and went close on a couple of occasions to increase their numerical advantage. Half way through the second half, a bobbly ball was not dealt with by the away side and the Whittlesey defence failed to clear, a late tackle was seen by the referee and he awarded a penalty to Ramsey. The home player stepped up to slot home and level the scores at 2-2. Whittlesey continued to push for a winner with the superb work-rate and pace of Ryan SMITH causing numerous headaches for the home defence. With 15 minutes to go a ball was pumped into the Whittlesey box and headed goalwards only for the ever impressive Daniel FLETCHER in the Whittlesey goal to make a save and push away, the referee then blew his whistle, had he seen a push on the Whittlesey defender's or an infringement in the box? No he had just awarded another penalty to the home side for wait for it................. handball! Handball against the goalkeeper who was on his goal-line! Surely the referee had made a mistake, the away players were angered by the decision and tried to explain to the referee that the goalkeeper had saved the ball with his hands and pushed the ball away but the referee bizarrely gave handball! Despite Whittlesey's protests the referee gave the penalty and up stepped a Ramsey player to make the score 3-2 to Ramsey.
Whittlesey were livid at the injustice they had just encountered and battled back in superb fashion and with a spirit that Whittlesey side's are known for. 17 year old Luke QUINCE A.K.A. Duracell found space in the box in the 89th minute to batter past the home keeper to make it 3-3 and cue mass celebrations from the visiting players. Whittlesey now went onto win the game, but in stoppage time a shot towards goal from the home side was parried away by FLETCHER into the face of Whittlesey centre half GALE and cruelly rebounded into the net to make it 4-3 to Ramsey. This was met by 11 heads in hands on the pitch and many more on the side-lines from the deflated Whittlesey boys.
The referee blew the final whistle to wrap things up for the day.
The old footballing cliché 'football’s a funny old game' was not in more evidence in any football game in the country both on a professional and amateur level than yesterday in Ramsey I’m sure. A scintillating game, 22 players competing vigorously, and a penalty given for handball against a goalkeeper who stood on his line and made a fine save?
There were a lot of disappointed lads in the dressing room after the game who were left bewildered at how they had come away from 90 minutes with absolutely nothing, but as we always do at Whittlesey we took the positives away and are already focused on next Saturday's big Cup match that we have.
Happy New Year to everyone!! Have a good'un!
Regards, Barrel
RAMSEY TOWN 4
WHITTLESEY UNITED 3
Cricket Field Lane
Att: 71
A bumper crowd saw Whittlesey United lose for the first time in eight games at a rain soaked Cricket Field Lane on Saturday, to their Fenland counterparts Ramsey Town.
The holiday season's festivities obviously had little effect on these two sets of players as they competed in an exhilarating match that was a great spectacle for Combination League 1 football.
Ramsey had the better of the opening exchanges with two lively wingers penetrating the Whittlesey full backs to full effect. The home side took the lead after 20 minutes when their centre forward Anderson belted home from close range after Whittlesey had failed to clear in the penalty area. The home side nearly went two up just moments later when a ball was squared across goal but luckily failed to find any oncoming home players.
This scare seemed to fire the young Whittlesey side into action and they started to play some neat football, a ball into the box from wide left was met by Whittlesey top goalscorer Ryan SMITH who acutely headed home past the home keeper. Whittlesey were now in full flow and were tearing at the home side like a pack of rampant wild dogs. Combative midfielder Graeme ROBINSON fed a good ball into the path of striker Micky BURCH who swivelled on a six pence to elude two Ramsey defenders, and as everyone waited with baited breath for him to strike at goal, he cleverly fed the ball sidewards into the path of centre back Adam SAMMONS who had made a 'Beckenbauer-Esque' run from the Whittlesey back line and slotted into the bottom corner of the net to the delight of the away bench.
The half time whistle was blown shortly after Whittlesey's second goal and the sides headed into the break with the score 2-1 Whittlesey.
The second half started scrappily with both sides slugging it out on a mudbath of a football pitch and in front of the floodlights. Again Ramsey started the better but Whittlesey regained momentum and went close on a couple of occasions to increase their numerical advantage. Half way through the second half, a bobbly ball was not dealt with by the away side and the Whittlesey defence failed to clear, a late tackle was seen by the referee and he awarded a penalty to Ramsey. The home player stepped up to slot home and level the scores at 2-2. Whittlesey continued to push for a winner with the superb work-rate and pace of Ryan SMITH causing numerous headaches for the home defence. With 15 minutes to go a ball was pumped into the Whittlesey box and headed goalwards only for the ever impressive Daniel FLETCHER in the Whittlesey goal to make a save and push away, the referee then blew his whistle, had he seen a push on the Whittlesey defender's or an infringement in the box? No he had just awarded another penalty to the home side for wait for it................. handball! Handball against the goalkeeper who was on his goal-line! Surely the referee had made a mistake, the away players were angered by the decision and tried to explain to the referee that the goalkeeper had saved the ball with his hands and pushed the ball away but the referee bizarrely gave handball! Despite Whittlesey's protests the referee gave the penalty and up stepped a Ramsey player to make the score 3-2 to Ramsey.
Whittlesey were livid at the injustice they had just encountered and battled back in superb fashion and with a spirit that Whittlesey side's are known for. 17 year old Luke QUINCE A.K.A. Duracell found space in the box in the 89th minute to batter past the home keeper to make it 3-3 and cue mass celebrations from the visiting players. Whittlesey now went onto win the game, but in stoppage time a shot towards goal from the home side was parried away by FLETCHER into the face of Whittlesey centre half GALE and cruelly rebounded into the net to make it 4-3 to Ramsey. This was met by 11 heads in hands on the pitch and many more on the side-lines from the deflated Whittlesey boys.
The referee blew the final whistle to wrap things up for the day.
The old footballing cliché 'football’s a funny old game' was not in more evidence in any football game in the country both on a professional and amateur level than yesterday in Ramsey I’m sure. A scintillating game, 22 players competing vigorously, and a penalty given for handball against a goalkeeper who stood on his line and made a fine save?
There were a lot of disappointed lads in the dressing room after the game who were left bewildered at how they had come away from 90 minutes with absolutely nothing, but as we always do at Whittlesey we took the positives away and are already focused on next Saturday's big Cup match that we have.
Happy New Year to everyone!! Have a good'un!
Regards, Barrel