Vs Maidenhead

[Stuntman Mark]

I was a long way off but thought he'd get a red. I've heard people nearer say it was never a red and I had a chat with Guy who said it was a mistimed challenge. A lot of people were saying one of their players should have gone but I didn't even see that. 

 

I think we did the right thing bringing a defender on and I think it was probably sensible to pull Gav with his recent injuries. We did look very vulnerable after the sending off but maybe playing too high a line against the pace of their attack. It was an absolute howler from Hicksy for their goal.

[Reading Rebel]

Came away from the game feeling a bit cheated but very proud of the effort and performance put in by our players tonight.

 

2-0 up, in control and looking dangerously like adding a third.

 

Then two decisions by the ref changed the whole course of the game.

 

Firstly, the Maidenhead right back should have been sent off for a blatant second bookable offence, unfortunately the ref bottled it, and then under immense pressure from the Maidenhead players and supporters he decided to send off Guy Hollis for what, from a distance, did look like a bit of a rash challenge.

 

Dan Hicks replaced Guy Hollis and immediately found himself done for pace when one on one with Dave Tarpey and it was 2-1.

 

The second half was always going to be tough but we more than held our own with a really gutsy display and it was only in the latter stages that having a man less really told and it was game over.

 

Superb performance from all the players tonight and whilst you can never be certain IMO if the game stayed 11 v 11 I think the outcome would have been different.

 

My MOTM was Chris Flood with an all round excellent display.

Edited January 17, 2017 by Reading Rebel

[redwine rebel]

Sums it up nicely Ed

 

Have to mention the Maidenhead boot boys about six of them, must of all been around 70 singing their football songs brilliant x

[Martin]

For me it looked a red. I was the opposite end of the pitch but I think it was two footed and out of control so a red can be justified. Stand to be corrected by

Those with a better view.

 

One of theirs should have gone for a second booking but ref choose to give a final warning and bottled that decision in my view. That could be a bone of contention.

 

Up until the sending off everything went perfectly. Soaked up their early pressure scored with our first clear chance. Dobbo forced a superb save from the free kick.

 

Gavin then made it two nil beating the keeper to a cross and heading into an empty net.

 

The sending off then completely changed the game.

 

Certainly not going to criticise the gaffers for the snap decision to replace Gavin with Hicks suspect it was always he plan that Gavin would be replaced at some point as part of his injury comeback but this was just earlier than planned!

 

The sending off was then compounded by the fact Hicks got beaten in his first one on one with Tarpey and they pulled a goal back. Second half we defended superbly but the pressure and tiredness told and once they equalised it always looked likely they would go on and win.

 

Credit to the boys who kept battling and it just wouldn't break for us with a late flurry of corners and free kicks with Scotty up and the fourth was a counter attack with no keeper in place.

 

Nothing in the game despite us playing an hour with ten so got to give full credit to the lads. We go again Saturday. COYR

Edited January 17, 2017 by Martin

[Stan]

Overheard a Couple of Maidenhead fans on way out mighty relieved. Said it was never a red but they were delighted when it was. Knew it changed the game.

Thought we were in total control for first 25 of second half , Flood was immense on his own up front , if he plays like that with a partner alongside him then it will be a different game. Always going to be a big ask with 10. As we know even if we had managed 2-0 with 11 on pitch second half would have been tough.

Main thing is we looked sharp and dangerous with 11 , intelligent and spirited with 10.

If we take that form into the league that will do nicely .

[A Rebel and a Saint]

Have to praise the efforts of the players last night. Unfortunately we ultimately tired and the difference was quite obvious by the end.

At 2-0 it was all excellent, we were playing some excellent football and two very well taken goals. The decision by the ref not to send off the full back was baffling though. Unfortunately Guy invited the opportunity for the ref to pull out a red card with the speed at which he went flying in and it certainly looked like a red from the far end of the pitch but I couldn't tell if it was two footed or not.

It was then unfortunate that Hicks got caught with the ball. From where I was he either need to pass back to Scott or just put his foot through it and put it anywhere but instead he tried to hold off the hottest player in non league football which was never going to end well.

Second half we did well to hold them off but it seemed inevitable that they would come back. The late pressure didn't quite give us the bounce of the ball.

Plenty of positives to take from doing so well away from home against a team that is on fire and we can take those on to the league games.

Thought the noise was excellent last night behind the goal with Adrian leading most of it. Particularly the last 5 minutes as we had several set pieces there was a lot of noise. We just need to replicate it at Arbour Park by grouping together more.

[maidenheadrebel]

Agree with all that has been said and I must say for a comp that is not very important there has been some very good games over the rounds and good

value for money which hopefully will bring people back to watch us.

Whilst Maidenhead certainly have a nice stand in the ground I can remember playing there now and again 40 years ago and even then the pitch would cut upbadly at that lower corner which it started to do last night (thought they could have fixed that by now!).

[Stuntman Mark]

Bravo to whoever came up with the Rolf Harris song!

[Reading Rebel]

Slight change to the squad tonight as James Granger forms did not go through in time for tonight, so Jesse Wilson will come into the 16.

 

 

Bakes, what happened to Paul Stonehouse last night?

 

Also, Jesse Wilson wasn't named in the 16?

[Manor Park Rebel]

Light years better than the performance against St Ives. Let's hope we can carry that forward to the Chippenham match. Nothing is constant in football apart from Leamington's floodlights going out (being switched off) when they are losing.

[Hammer_rebel]

As per usual officials ruining a bloody good game! We were on top and looking strong! I would how ever like to know how people can be sure it was a defo red when u are at the other side of the pitch.... in the dark. Obviously incredible eye sight to say it was two footed. I was honest when it happened and said it didn't look good but too far away to be sure. Video will soon tell. But even if over turned won't change the result but will keep guy playing and that's all that matters. The fact Maidenhead only scored after we went down to 10 just shows the quality last night I just hope it continues in the league games. Fans were quality as well I haven't been much impressed with flood so far and was glad last night he showed me I was wrong, hope he keeps proving me wrong

[Neil Baker]

Stoney was a mistake from me, as he was unavailable for the game, however when I was writing the preview I was a bit rushed, and forgot to exclude Stoney.

 

So the issues we had yesterday prior to the game, were that James Granger league form did not go through in time, so at which point we added Jesse to the squad, unbeknown that he was still on a games suspension with Ascot, which he thought had passed, however when we checked he is still suspended until they play one more game, and as we only had confirmation of that at 5pm it was too late to update website as I was on the way to the game, and to late to bring anyone else in.

[HorshamRebel]

Match Photos

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/horshamrebel/albums/72157677292805722

[Reading Rebel]

Stoney was a mistake from me, as he was unavailable for the game, however when I was writing the preview I was a bit rushed, and forgot to exclude Stoney.

 

So the issues we had yesterday prior to the game, were that James Granger league form did not go through in time, so at which point we added Jesse to the squad, unbeknown that he was still on a games suspension with Ascot, which he thought had passed, however when we checked he is still suspended until they play one more game, and as we only had confirmation of that at 5pm it was too late to update website as I was on the way to the game, and to late to bring anyone else in.

 

 

Thanks for the clarification Bakes.

[staines_rebel_Jr]

With the final being played at a neutral venue what are the chances it will be played at Arbour Park?

[RebelDelaney]

Terrific effect from the lads in difficult circumstances.

I am not a fan of players getting sent off but how many more refs are we going to get this season who bottle the big decisions that's three recent games now where opposing players should of been sent off.

Superb crowd and support for the Rebels I thought attendence was more than 1112.

Let's get back on track playing like that starting sat.

 

COYREBELS

[Mr Rebel]

It does feel like big game changing decisions haven't really gone our way this season (for example tackle on Scott vs Chippenham which didn't even get talking to and left us without a 1 legged keeper).

 

Even worse if video evidence shows Hollis was harshly sent off. Nailed on yellow card tackles a few times last night ref didn't give to them. Overall ref was really poor i thought giving some really soft decisions and not punishing some severe stuff. 

 

We might not have won but the players in no way disgraced themselves. The class we showed when 11 vs 11 was superb and the fight we showed with 10 was admirable. 

[kirk]

Was that Maidenheads first team?

[HorshamRebel]

This tackle didn't get any cards.

 

In the air, two footed, which equates to an out of control tackle

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/horshamrebel/31540577434/in/album-72157677292805722/

[redwine rebel]

Think so Kirk.

 

On the red card incident, sorry but I do think the Maidenhead players crowding the ref swayed him.