Fourth league defeat for Addingham

Harlow Hill 4

Addingham slumped to their fourth league defeat of the season in a game where they totally dominated, and had it not been for the overly pedantic referee then the out come would surely have been a different story.

With regular 'keeper Andy Dobson injured Sergio Galasso deputised in goal and aside from the first goal he performed admirably.

As early as the second minute Harlow took the lead, a long sweeping free-kick eluded every one and Galasso misjudged its flight as the ball looped into the net.

Undeterred Addingham went at Harlow and on the boggy surface they played some cracking football that had their opponents permanently on the back foot. Sadly for both teams the referee was giving no margin for the conditions. Again and again he frustrated both sets of players as he continually stopped play for the slightest infringements.

Addingham voiced their frustrations the loudest and had three players booked.

At the break Addingham were confident they could turn the 0-1 deficit around. They had bossed the game and only last gasp defending had kept them out. Their chances of restoring parity were ruined five minutes into the second-half though.

Charlesworth and Webb tussled for the ball and as it was cleared upfield the referee halted play again, the pair were warned and to the bemusement of everyone Charlesworth was red carded for violent conduct.

Still Addingham refused to give up the fight and they continued to batter the Harlow goal despite the disadvantage. Cummings rattled the post and Ridley clipped the bar as they pressed for an equiliser.

With 20 minutes to play Harlow made the extra man count. With a depleted squad Addingham were without substitutes and the tiredness of being a man down on the sapping pitch showed as Harlow counter-attacked to double the lead and virtually seal the win.

Addingham strove in vain to force something but the difficult task soon became mission impossible. Having picked up a yellow card for a wreckless first-half challenge Dan Wells then saw red for a completely nothing remark.

The referee allowed Harlow to play on despite the obvious off-side. Once the danger was cleared Wells asked the referee why he had not stopped play for the off-side, No swearing, no raised voice just a simple question but the referee was not a man to have his decisions questioned and Wells was sent off for dissent.

Now with two extra men Harlow were in the comfort zone and added two final goals to kill of Addingham.

The record will show a 4-0 defeat and two sent of for Addingham. What it will not record is the way a referee ruined a game for two teams when both sides agreed the spirit and attitude of all players was fine and there had not been one bad tackle in the game.

l On Saturday Addingham are away all players meet at the Swan at noon.