Red Card Nightmare for Jets

Tring Athletic 3 Jets 2

Spartan South Midlands Premier
14th November 2009

The first team lost an awful game at Tring in a match General Manager John Elliott described as "the worst refereeing display I have seen at this level".

Jets knew the trip to Tring would be challenging, as Tring are going well this year near the top of the table, but it was Jets who took the lead after 19 minutes when a TIM O'MARA strike edged them in front.

Tring levelled things up when Steve Brown was caught and Burfoot scored the first of his hat-trick on 39mins, and the game looked like being even at half-time.

The game, however, was ruined for Jets on the stroke of half time when, first of all, a long shot down the hill in the gale went just past Sam Beasant’s crossbar and, inexplicably, a corner was given. Then, from the corner, Lee Inch made a super goal-line clearance but, to the amazement of all, the referee judged a hand ball, even though it was clearly chested down, and held a straight red in the air. Typical to Jets luck, Sam Beasant’s long dive saved the spot kick but the rebound was scored. half time 1-2.

Ten men Jets pushed forward with the help of the slope and the wind and got their rewards when LEE GRACE made it 2-2 with a back post header.

A further referee influenced turn, again went against Jets when Colin Jenkins was taken out from behind and the official who Jets general manager John Elliott described as "talking in the worst manner to players he has ever heard in this level of football" gave Steve Brown a yellow, that was the forerunner to another sending off when Brown made a fairly silly foul minutes later.

Deep into stoppage time, with Jets nine-men holding out for the draw, Jets conceded the winning goal when the injured Beasant let a soft header in for the winner.

Jets really will feel hard done by on the day, and 2-2 was properly about right, and deserved, as it was a hard work day for ten men Jets. The game, however, will only be remembered by Jets for one reason, or person, and the pity is that not only were the players weekends ruined, but the consequences will still effect them in 21 days when the bans kick in on the players sent off.

Jets were very, very unhappy.