Controversy
I've watched a lot of college football in my time, but never have I seen anything quite as ridiculous as what I saw in the Parks on Monday afternoon.
Leading 2-1 against their Premier League opponents with quarter of an hour to play, St Johns of the First Division were robbed of a deserved cup upset by a bizarre refereeing decision. Controversy? The FA Cup has got nothing on Men's Cuppers.
While chasing another long ball from defence, St John's Musa Okwonga slid in to challenge for the ball. Teddy Hall's defensive rock Dave Williams crumpled in a heap to the floor under the force of the challenge, his legs falling from beneath him like a soldier picked out by a crafty sniper.
There followed a long wait while the unfortunate player received attention from the ambulance crew which had, eventually, arrived. The length of time between the challenge and the treatment was nothing short of scandalous, and the lack of such a provision at this level of football must be cause for future concern.
Once the ambulance had left, the John's players, who were cheered on by their supporters like American cheerleaders on the touchline, were ready to resume the match and seal their place in the semi-finals.
However, it was not to be. During the break several Teddy Hall players had approached the referee, pointing out to the official that if the game were to go to extra time there would not be enough time to play it before the light went.
Considering they were a goal down and under pressure from John's this looked a touch optimistic.
Nevertheless, despite there being at least another three quarters of an hour of light left and only 15 minutes of normal time to play, the referee agreed with them, and the match was abandoned. The referee should not have been so easily persuaded and at least played until the 90 minutes were up, but a degree of blame must go to those who decided the kick-off time, for not countenancing the possibility of extra-time in a Cuppers quarter-final.
St Johns' players did not hide their frustration with the referee's unbelievable evaluation of the situation. St John's magnificent centre back Ali Kamaliddin complained, "I'm absolutely gutted, we played our hearts out against a so-called superior team and came out on top, yet the ref stole it from us".
On today's showing St John's surely deserved their place in the semi-final. However, on another day and in different conditions, the obvious class of Teddy Hall might show through, though if St John's can play with the spirit that they showed here then they could yet win the semi-final berth which they deserve.
Five minutes after half-time, an absolute screamer from captain Stuart Clayton gave John's a well-deserved lead. This was followed minutes later by a less spectacular, but nevertheless critical, second goal from St John's Musa Okwonga.
However, St John's let their concentration at the back slip for a minute, and that is all it takes for the Hall's impressive attack to capitalise.
As a long range speculative shot dribbled towards John's inconsistent keeper John Hammond, Pints followed in more in hope than expectation. As the ball miraculously appeared on the other side of Hammond, Pints was the first to react and tuck the ball home from a tight angle.
But then controversy struck. Will anything be done to prevent this happening in the future? At this time of year, the light is always going to be a factor, especially in the Cup, where extra-time is always a probability.
Surely the possibility of a major shock cannot be jeopardised because of administrative blunders in the future. Would the same decision have been taken if the score was 4-1? Unlikely to say the least. In that situation the game would have carried on until the end of normal time.
So should this game, with the problems of extra-time dealt with if and when it became necessary.
St John's performance did not deserve such an unfortunate resolution to the game. Maybe they will take their revenge in the re-arranged fixture, which will hopefully kick off at an appropriate hour!
31st Jan 2002