VCD Athletic 0-0 Erith & Belvedere - The officials' were embarrasing, says Micky Collins

VCD ATHLETIC  0-0  ERITH & BELVEDERE
(after extra time)
The FA Carlsberg Vase First Round
Saturday 13^th October 2012
Paul Parkinson reports from Oakwood

SEVEN yellow cards, two red, two angry managers, but no goals after extra time so VCD Athletic and Erith & Belvedere will have to go again at Park View Road on Tuesday to see who will progress in this season’s FA Vase. 
 


And instead of being able to talk about their side’s respective defensive displays and missed chances, both managers had the performance of the officials on their mind.

Erith & Belvedere boss, Micky Collins, who saw his assistant Grant Watts sent from the dug-out with eleven minutes left in normal time, was blunt, saying, “I think the officials made it frustrating, to be fair. I thought the officials were embarrassing, and I think both sides and both sets of fans will say that.

“Everyone has seen it was a blatant penalty at the end. Adam has been taken out, he’s clear and he is four yards away and the ref’s not given it!

“How many times do we go on each week and moan about officials not making the right decisions at the right time? It just defies belief. Everyone asks for respect, and you try to respect them, but when you see decisions that poor, it’s laughable!

“I don’t care who is in charge, as long as they are consistent, and shows a level of respect to both benches. I thought all the officials were so disrespectful to the benches, and that started the problem. They had one lad swear at the official and he got a yellow card. Our lad questioned one decision, he didn’t swear, and he’s been sent from the technical area. Where is the consistency? That’s not acceptable!

“I asked the official if there was extra-time after the game, and he wouldn’t answer me. I wasn’t shouting at him, I just asked him a civil question. I don’t care if the officials come from Timbuktoo; as long as they have a level of respect towards us, they’ll get it back. We all make mistakes and make bad decisions, but just have a level of respect!””

But Collins added: “On the balance of play, if you weigh up the chances, I thought we probably had the better chances of the game. Alright, they had one cleared off the line, but Burch (Adam Burchall) has had a one-on-one and the keeper’s made a good save.”

“Maybe we should have punished them, but even when they went down to ten men, they are still a dangerous side. It was a tough game, it was always going to be. We’ve been scoring so many goals, and said before the game this would be nil-nil, and it has proved me right again.”

VCD Athletic boss Ricky Bennett concurred with his opposite number, and explained when asked if the officials’ performance had affected the tie, he replied, “I think you’ve hit the nail on the head. It was a decent cup tie, maybe not the best football in the world, but the officials, for me, had no control.

“I don’t know where they came from, or what level they are at, but it looked like the game was too big for them. In reality, it’s not a big game, it’s the first round of The FA Vase. There’s a big thing going on about respect, but they don’t give it back, they don’t talk to you nicely, and it didn’t help.”

In a game where clear-cut chances were at a premium, most of the play was concentrated in the midfield, and too often, both defences were able to stamp out any attacking flair, but when called upon, both goalkeepers stood tall to keep the scoreline goal-less.

Erith & Belvedere’s leading scorer, Andy Constable, had the first shot of note after 16 minutes, latching onto Adam Burchall’s cross in the VCD area. Constable’s initial touch took away his first chance, but he quickly turned Paul Gross, and his goalbound shot was blocked away by Laurence Collins.

Mark Hammond saw a curling free kick, that appeared to be touched over by Scott Chalmers-Stevens, only to see a goal kick awarded, and ended the first half with the game’s first booking to his name for a foul on Orlando Smith, while Jamie Wood fired a left foot volley high over the VCD bar.

How Hammond’s was the game’s first card was beyond many of the crowd, but the official soon added names in the second half, as Lee Morgan, and Karl Dent while still in the dugout, also saw yellow within the first 10 minutes.

Hammond had another free kick turned over by Chalmers-Stevens, and Orlando Smith fired an effort at Steve Northwood as the game began to open up.

Kieron McCann curled a shot wide after good work from Adam Burchell, and with eight minutes left, Burchell found himself set free by Paul Springett in a 3-on-1 attack, but Northwood was quickly off his line to block the ex-Dartford forward’s shot with his legs.

Despite having assistant manager Watts sent off, Erith piled on the pressure in the closing minutes of normal time.

Constable had a shot saved by Northwood; Wood fired an effort over the angle of post and bar; a Constable header was claimed by Northwood at Burchall’s feet, then, with seconds remaining, McCann curled a left foot shot through a crowd of players, but James Duckworth cleared off the line.

In extra time, Aiden Pursglove saw a shot blocked by George Benner, then Duckworth nearly followed his good defensive work, stepping inside Richard Davies but his shot was parried away by Chalmers-Stevens.

VCD were reduced to 10 men five minutes into extra time, as Hammond was dismissed for another foul on Smith. But, to the home sides’credit, they looked to have more of a threat, mainly through the pace of Uche Ibemere, and forced five consecutive corners at the end of the period, which led to a Springett header over the bar.

Erith & Belvedere had two loud claims for a penalty in the second period. Firstly, McCann went spectacularly over Gary Clarke in the VCD box, then with seconds left, the referee pointed to the spot as Burchell appeared to be bundled over, but a flag from the assistant saw the decision overturned.

But Bennett was full of praise for his side, saying, “We had to dig in and we knew what their strengths are. They play to them week-in, week-out and that is why they score lots of goals. Our strength, season-by-season, has been our defence, keeping clean sheets, and everyone today, not just the defenders, knew there would be times today where we had to dig in and defend. But we also had opportunities ourselves, it wasn’t one-way by any means, and I wanted to see us on the ball more.”

“We have a never-say-die attitude in our camp and today we had a couple of good chances. I don’t think the keeper has had too many saves to make, but I’d like us to be on the ball more in the middle of the park and been a bit more creative.

“Fair play to them, they pressed us hard all over the pitch, but with 10 men, against an in-form side at the top of the league, our effort was pleasing.”

And looking forward to the replay, he added, “We’ll go there Tuesday and have a good go. It is Cup football and anything can happen, but I think it will be similar to today; tight, cagey, and a goal can open up a game.”

Collins, who was also talking about the replay, said: “I think Tuesday will be another cagey affair. I think if someone scores early that will open the game up. Everyone was nervous and it was a tight game, but I’m pleased we’ve kept a clean sheet. My boys have given me 100%, gone out there fighting for the cause.”

“If you stop creating chances, you start to worry, but today we’ve created at least three really good chances and we should have had a blatant penalty that we haven’t got, but it was pleasing to keep the clean sheet.”

VCD Athletic:  Steve Northwood, Mark Hammond, Laurence Collins, George Mitchell, Paul Gross, Gary Clarke, Lee Morgan (Jimmy Rogers 83), Billy Bennett, Aiden Pursglove (Greg Benbow 99), James Duckworth (Karl Dent 112), Uche Ibemere.
Subs: Mike McKenna, Jack Bradshaw

Booked: Mark Hammond 44, Lee Morgan 54, Karl Dent 57, Paul Gross 76

Sent Off: Mark Hammond 95

Erith & Belvedere:  Scott Chalmers-Stevens, Alan Mathews, Richard Davies, Jamie Wood, Steve Hanson, George Benner, Kieron McCann, Paul Springett, Andy Constable, Adam Burchell, Orlando Smith.
Subs: Sam Johnson, Sam Hasler, Karl Knight, Luis Regis, Martin Francis.

Booked:  Alan Mathews 67, Richard Davies 115

Sent Off: Grant Watts (Assistant Manager) 79

Attendance: 101
Referee: Mr Matthew Westlake (Sutton, Surrey)
Assistants: Mr Steve Earl (Mitcham, Surrey) & Mr Alan Hodge (Croydon, Surrey)