We Didn't Deserve This

The game turned in the space of three minutes when Fletcher received two yellow cards and was sent off leaving Rainworth to play with ten men. Even so, Rainworth must have wondered how they only led 1-0 after spurning a number of opportunities to increase their slender lead.
There was a lot of debate about the second yellow but in fairness to the referee he sets the tariff. Sadly, similar offences went unpunished during the game, much to the dismay of the home fans.

Birstall United equalised on the stroke of half time and after the start to the season Rainworth were experiencing most of the home fans feared the worst.

However, Rainworth had chances to go in front before Birstall capitalised on their numeric advantage to take the lead in the 58th minute. You would have been hard pressed to realise that Rainworth only had ten men as they valiantly pushed for an equaliser.

The game was all but over in the 70th minute when Rainworth keeper Niall Edge collided with Will Burton just outside the area. To even some of the visiting fan’s amazement he was shown a red card, many thought a yellow sufficient. Still Rainworth pushed for an equaliser, but in the final minute of normal time a Paul Pallett volley finished them off.

There was still time for Birstall to get in on the red cards when Kristian Barber was shown red for an off the ball incident. Everyone in the vicinity of the incident knew who the culprit was, definitely not Barber, but in fairness to the referee who was following play at the time and took advice from his assistants.

The game got off to a fast start with both sides testing the opposition defences. Plamedi Kanbulu’s long range drive in the opening minute was always rising and Charlie Doherty just beat Thomas Marshall to the ball three minutes later.

Pallett should have done better when he put his effort wide when well placed and a good piece of defensive scrambling by Rainworth defused a dangerous situation.

Rainworth fans thought they were about to see the first goal of their season in the 15th minute, but Callum Brooks mazy run ended with him hitting it straight at Doherty, much to the keeper’s relief. The goal however wasn’t long in coming when Freddy Tracey laid the ball to Fletcher and his drive found the bottom corner.

Rainworth almost doubled their lead in the 19th minute but Thomas Marshall’s effort hitting the side netting with Doherty scrambling. two minutes later Doherty did well to deny Marshall with an excellent diving save.

Rainworth continued on the front foot and Fletcher’s heavy touch from Brooks saw Doherty able to gather. Harley Butcher-Simpson combined on the left, but Marshall’s cross was inches from being converted from the head of Nathan Benger.

Edge made a brilliant block with his feet from Josh Crossley’s goal bound effort and Pallett’s diving header flew across the Rainworth goalmouth.

A mistake in the Birstall penalty area should have seen Rainworth increase their score but whilst Marshall’s cross found Tracey he miskicked when well placed and Brooks follow up was always rising.

The first talking point came in the 37th minute when Fletcher was brought down from behind by a bad tackle, unfortunately his retaliation saw him join the perpetrator in the referee’s book. Two minutes later the two players clashed again, and Fletcher was shown a second yellow and Rainworth were down to ten men.

There can be no argument as the referee set the tariff, unfortunately the tariff was not maintained throughout the match when a number of similar tackles went unpunished with cards, especially on Brooks.

Even with ten men Rainworth had on opportunity in the 43rd minute to double their lead when Tracey and Marshall combined but Tracey’s effort lacked power and was easily saved.

In the final minute of the half Birstall found on equaliser when Pallet bundled home Crossley’s cross from the left.

The second half saw Rainworth continue to press and Tracey was unlucky to see his goal bound effort blocked. It’s never easy playing with ten and so it proved in the 58th minute when an overload on the left saw Crossley find Sam Richards and his drive found the bottom corner.

Birstall should have made it three in the 68th minute when Pallett inexplicably missed an open goal when he put his header wide with the goal at his mercy.

Rainworth made a double substitution in the 69th minute bringing on Farrell Ryder and Kieron Blanksby for Benger and Tracey. A minute later and Rainworth were down to nine men when Edge was adjudged to have fouled Burton to deny him a goal scoring opportunity. The decision looked harsh as defenders were between Burton and the goal, even the travelling supporters agreed they thought a yellow at most. Tom Berry took the gloves.

Even with nine men Rainworth continued to search for an equaliser and in the 75th minute Brooks goal bound effort was denied by an outstretched leg. Five minutes later Liam Arnold’s effort just went wide from Brooks free kick.

Brooks continued to be a threat, but Doherty was on hand to gather his effort. A minute later and he made an even better save to deny Marshall.

Rainworth made their final substitutions in the 86th minute bringing on Ryan Faulconbridge and Tom Rose for Butcher-Simpson and Ethan Wilkinson.

Berry did well to tip Crossley’s fierce drive over but in the final minute of normal time he could do nothing to prevent Pallett’s volley finding the bottom corner.

In the final minute of stoppage time Faulconbridge was hit off the ball, the referee who was following play and didn’t see the incident and consulted his assistants. Barber to his surprise and everybody else who saw the incident was shown a red card. I only hope the actual perpetrator owns up and apologies to him. He should have seen red, although if the same tariff adopted for Fletcher, it should have come 40 minutes earlier for tackles just as bad.

Rainworth gave everything today and got nothing, on another day they may have still had eleven men and got some points. One thing is certain Birstall knew they’d been in a game.

RAINWORTH MWFC: Edge; Wilkinson (Faulconbridge); Butcher-Simpson (Rose); Culf; Arnold; Berry; Brooks; Fletcher; Benger (Blanksby); Tracey (Ryder); Marshall.
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