Potters Bar Town vs Enfield Town

[seemgee]

0-0 after 20 mins the wind playing havoc

[littlehampton]

Let's hope its blowing in our favour in the second half.

[littlehampton]

Town down to ten men. Matata sent off just before half time.

[seemgee]

down to 9 men Kirby off

[seemgee]

Leiston and Needham both one all, Grays lost the early kick off

[littlehampton]

Bad news! That could seriously damage our chances. Will be a miracle if we get something out of this match. Fingers crossed!!

[Robson]

Being down to 9 men is ridiculous, especially if one of the red cards was for dissent. Passion is one thing, but getting sent off needlessly is unacceptable.

[seemgee]

Final score 0-0 will take that after the red cards

 

Needham 2-2 draw, Leiston win 3-1

[littlehampton]

We hoped for a win but would probably have settled for a point from this match. With only nine men for the whole of the second half, that is a great away point for us and it could prove absolutely vital come the end of the season. Well played the nine men you did us proud in salvaging something from this match.

[The Crowing Cockerel]

It was unfortunate that today's ref failed to apply common sense. Walid Matata stumbled past two PB players just outside the area, regained his balance, but the ref had blown-up already. The next thing I saw was the PB no.4 on the ground holding his head and the usual melee. Rudi predictably ended-up head to head with another player before things calmed. Walid received a straight red. Presumably he had lashed-out at the PB no.4? He was incensed at his sending-off and then had to be restrained by his team mates as he went to 'remonstrate' with the no.4. Was Walid rightly upset at some play acting - perhaps someone with a better view can tell me.

 

The Kirby red card was simply ridiculous. He slid in at the right-back position with a tackle which put the ball out of play. The throw in went to PB. It appears that Kirbs referred to either an opposing player or a supporter as a "f#%$ing w@#$%r". He retreated to his position and while pulling up his socks the ref immediately flashed the red card in his direction.

 

Now, I concede that the ref had no choice with Matata - if he floored his opponent in an act of retribution then he deserved to be sent off. However, the ref should have applied some commonsense in respect of the Kirby situation. A quiet word, or perhaps even a booking may have been in order. A red card was excessive and in my opinion undue. Kirby did not swear at an official - in fact the ref could not be sure at whom the words were directed. It was 'industrial language', but no different from some of the criticism directed at officials by the PB players.

 

All in all it was an heroic performance by the remaining 9. However I'm worried that the suspensions of the central defenders may be a problem.

[NowhereMan]

I've no doubt others on here will tell you all about the referee's performance today (he was crap generally even though the sending offs were correct in law). What i find most disturbing and have done for a number of years is the distasteful and utterly pointless screaming of abuse at the officials as they go through the walkway back to the dressing rooms. It serves no purpose and does OUR CLUB ABSOLUTELY NO FAVOURS WHATSOEVER. We have been fined and warned about this several times over the 10 years of our existence yet the message just doesn't seem to sink in. Yes we get some crap decisions go against us and yes moan about them by all means but standing mob handed at a fence and screaming "You F.....g C..t!! only inflames the situation even more and ultimately in most cases actually works against us as psycologically an official is less inclined to give 50/50 calls in the favour of the team/supporters giving him the abuse. Now i know people will accuse me of not being passionate etc etc but believe me i am i just channel it in a better way. At the end of the day it IS only a game and we are meant to be a FAMILY club with a good reputation. The sad thing is that the people who do this are really old enough to know better and should be mature enough. WE ARE A GREAT CLUB and we all need to pull in the right direction and stop being divisive. I make no apologies for using capitals but i felt it needed to be said. Adam Wallace was immense today and it just goes to show what a great team spirit we have within the playing staff.

[The Crowing Cockerel]

Adam Wallace was immense today and it just goes to show what a great team spirit we have within the playing staff.

Agreed re Adam Wallace.

 

I also agree that the ref-baiting did (and indeed does) our club no good. Unfortunately there was no way the the ref was going to receive a polite ripple of applause as he came in at half-time. Perhaps the officials should've huddled in the centre circle during the interval?

 

The biggest obstacle to a promotion push this year might be the discipline of our players during a tough run-in.

 

The discipline of our fans? Well, I'm not sure what th answer is.

[Enfield United]

I thought the game was refereed to a farcical level today. Yes technically both were sendings off. But wow I dunno where this ref lives but swearing or abusive language does go on and he is not going to change the cultural behaviour of footballers and the footballing environment on his own. Therefore common sense should have prevailed and it did not.

 

I can select a tackle from behind which flattened a targeted Liam Hope before Walid's red card. The referee saw the tackle gave a free kick, spoke to the CH in questionand that was it. The number 2 clearly raised his right foot at upper thigh height studs showing at Bardle in the second half but this was punished with a yellow card, the same punishment Noel Imber got for rushing over to express his view. Why book Noel Imber? when there were 10 others also expressing a view, a couple of which PBT players included explesives whilst doing so, sorry it's petty but how can Kirby and Imber be singled out and others be free of punishment.

 

Additionally, if the goalkeepers full blooded challenge 5 mins from the end was not one where he flew in with excessive force then I dont know what was. In the modern game you can win the ball but not with excessive force.

 

Bottom line is this referee was out of his depth and has clearly not played the game at any decent level and does'nt have the awe of control in his personality or character to deal with this level.

 

It is no surprise a Redditch player (wrongly but understandably) could not control his actions when taking a swipe at this official in a previous non league game 2-3 months ago.

 

As for the screaming Lord Sutch at half time, well he was a problem for PBT today and they called the police as they were worried if he escalated his behaviour from f'ing and blinding. I think if he repeated that behaviour at the 'Dome' we have to consider telling him to go away. We have 500 fans coming through our turnstiles of late and a lot of good work going on, on and off the field for us to worry about losing 2-3 fans who potentially could give us a bad name. It's about these fan's coming along with the Club and the great spirit which now exists.

 

Well done to all for the point today, yes Adam ran his man flu off today to great effect but the rest of the second half team all equally contributed and don't forget the well re-arranged game plan by Steve and his coaching team which almost pulled off a nine man win.

 

Cold End- I personally await match highlights with key moments in slow motion.

 

Up The Town C'mon

[Part Time Par]

It is no surprise a Redditch player (wrongly but understandably) could not control his actions when taking a swipe at this official in a previous non league game 2-3 months ago.

 

Deary me, a club official condoning a match official being assaulted (Understandably! No assault of a match official is understandable)

 

and yes, you are a club offcial, you stated to me on a previous post that you are "the reserve team manager, and well qualified to do so" (quote/unquote), so that does indeed make you a club offcial.

[NowhereMan]

I thought the game was refereed to a farcical level today. Yes technically both were sendings off. But wow I dunno where this ref lives but swearing or abusive language does go on and he is not going to change the cultural behaviour of footballers and the footballing environment on his own. Therefore common sense should have prevailed and it did not.

 

I can select a tackle from behind which flattened a targeted Liam Hope before Walid's red card. The referee saw the tackle gave a free kick, spoke to the CH in questionand that was it. The number 2 clearly raised his right foot at upper thigh height studs showing at Bardle in the second half but this was punished with a yellow card, the same punishment Noel Imber got for rushing over to express his view. Why book Noel Imber? when there were 10 others also expressing a view, a couple of which PBT players included explesives whilst doing so, sorry it's petty but how can Kirby and Imber be singled out and others be free of punishment.

 

Additionally, if the goalkeepers full blooded challenge 5 mins from the end was not one where he flew in with excessive force then I dont know what was. In the modern game you can win the ball but not with excessive force.

 

Bottom line is this referee was out of his depth and has clearly not played the game at any decent level and does'nt have the awe of control in his personality or character to deal with this level.

 

It is no surprise a Redditch player (wrongly but understandably) could not control his actions when taking a swipe at this official in a previous non league game 2-3 months ago.

 

As for the screaming Lord Sutch at half time, well he was a problem for PBT today and they called the police as they were worried if he escalated his behaviour from f'ing and blinding. I think if he repeated that behaviour at the 'Dome' we have to consider telling him to go away. We have 500 fans coming through our turnstiles of late and a lot of good work going on, on and off the field for us to worry about losing 2-3 fans who potentially could give us a bad name. It's about these fan's coming along with the Club and the great spirit which now exists.

 

Well done to all for the point today, yes Adam ran his man flu off today to great effect but the rest of the second half team all equally contributed and don't forget the well re-arranged game plan by Steve and his coaching team which almost pulled off a nine man win.

 

Cold End- I personally await match highlights with key moments in slow motion.

 

Up The Town C'mon

Totally agree with everything you've said. I would've loved to have been a fly on the wall if an Assessor was conducting his brief as i have a pretty good idea what he might have been saying.

[Enfield United]

It is no surprise a Redditch player (wrongly but understandably) could not control his actions when taking a swipe at this official in a previous non league game 2-3 months ago.

 

Deary me, a club official condoning a match official being assaulted (Understandably! No assault of a match official is understandable)

 

and yes, you are a club offcial, you stated to me on a previous post that you are "the reserve team manager, and well qualified to do so" (quote/unquote), so that does indeed make you a club offcial.

 

Looks like the wind up merchant still reads our postings, he must find it entertaining, of which of course entertaining is what ETFC are all about at this time.

 

I was appalled when I first read the assault on a referee. And I say it again x100 that I can understand how this particular official who can not official with common sense leaving himself open to such an action by hot headed passionate athletes. What comes out of this is our ETFC players showed what good character they were in digging out a point when other teams/players this official has reffed self destructed.

Edited January 22, 2012 by Enfield United

[Jim Cunneen]

and the language, abuse and general attitude by SOME from 1492 yesterday shows that they are not above it . Pot to kettle springs to mind...

[Steph]

Matata's sending off is referred to in the non-league paper as "moving his head towards a player". Having seen Matata on a number of occasions he is not easily riled and plays his football with a smile on his face. I do not believe that he would have deliberately head butt a player.

 

As for Kirby. If he swore at a supporter that is not acceptable and a yellow card would have suited. Swearing at an official is a sending off offence. Swearing in frustration at no one in particular happens and has to be accepted.

 

I note that EU said that the Redditch player struck the ref "Wrongly but understandably". Now that phrase in no way condones the player's actions and is critical of it. We can often understand why things happen doesn't mean we condone them.

[thecoldend]

EU...Sorry no highlights....I tried juggling the camera with keeping an eye of my little boy and it didn't work out.. the boy won in the end!!

 

I have to say I agree with Nowhere Man in that the abuse of match officials (no matter how bad or good the decisions they make are) does the name of Enfield Town Football Club no favours whatsoever. As stated I had my little boy with me yesterday and being 4 years old he tends to copy things he sees and ask his dad questions about what he has seen..

 

To see a Town fan loudly bellowing at the top of his voice 'F*** OFF REFEREE YOU F***ING CHEAT' and then pausing before adding 'C*** YOU F***ING [censored]' very close to where I was standing at the half time whistle wasn't good to see at all.

 

I have followed Town, Enfield FC and non-league football since 1987 so I am well aware there will be some swearing at games as like it or lump it...it's firmly ingrained in the game at Premier League down to grassroots level. Yesterday's behaviour by some people over-stepped the mark!

 

Luckily my boy was not aware of what was going on.

 

The question I ask is if I took my boy to a playground/ball pool/swimming pool etc and every time I went there was someone getting a bit shouty and sweary bellowing the odd F and C word every week...would I go back to that said establishment??? NO

 

Onto the game and I though the second half performance by the 9 men showed what spirit Steve's team has. Gunz run his guts out up front and I though Rudi and especially Dean in midfield put in great performances.

 

I was expecting more from Potters Bar Town who have been in good form of late but they rarely threated Noel's goal.

 

Would we have taken getting 4 points from Brentwood Town at home and PBT away?? - probably yes.

 

There is now a gap opening up between 2nd and 3rd which could get smaller if Harlow win their game in hand....and gues who Leiston are playing next weekend?? HARLOW TOWN V LEISTON - BIG GAME... Harlow could play themselves back into the title race???

[thecoldend]

I have looked through some of the footage and found a little bit worth a look at. It show's Walid's sending off was probably the right decision and that it was probably the assistant referee (who was consulted by the referee) who saw the incident.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icDiDzNH6pM&feature=youtu.be

 

I took a picture of the Town fans on the Potters Bar Kop yesterday and it's interesting to play spot the difference between that one and the picture from December 2009. How time flys?? See the cold end for pictures

Edited January 22, 2012 by thecoldend