The line between this being a glorious week and a wholly crappy week was very, very fine. Certainly, that's the way it seemed at about 4.15pm yesterday.
Sometimes (well, okay, quite often) completely mysterious stuff takes place on the football field. The penalty decision, and subsequent re-take, in yesterday's game against Whakatane fell into that category. We felt several incorrect decisions were made during the moments surrounding the incident and that, coupled with the fact the goal (when it finally did go in) gave Whakatane a massively undeserved lifeline into a game they should have been out of, led to a boiling sense of injustice rising to the surface.
We all see different things, and see things in different ways, so this whole kerfluffle shouldn't be surprising. I'm glad Neil appreciated the situation enough to know that the frustration expressed by some of our players was a natural human reaction and didn't start flashing the cards around.
He let us get on with the game... and that's what we did. The release of emotion when Ishy's goal went in was a real gusher, I'll tell you!
We all take something out of yesterday. I know the officials will review the key moments and will hopefully appreciate, in hindsight, that what they thought they saw happen didn't actually take place as they believe it did. The real elbower confessed as much after the game.
Thankfully, the only thing Whakatane's goal from the spot did was ensure the final quarter hour of the match was a Matamata master class. So maybe I should be thankful for the intervention from Phillip and Neil!
And yes, I know, I wouldn't be anywhere near this gracious if we hadn't won the game. But we did, so this will be a glorious week.
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Dwayne, all decisions are made with all the information available to the referees at that split second of time that they have. The penalty was the correct decision based on that information available so the desision was correct. The retake was based on the GK taking the one step too soon as part of the laws of the game. As to my decision "not to flash cards around" I think what I have posted on the forum covers most of that. I am sure Jed, Andy and Duncan as senior members of the team, in hind site, should have shown more control with their emotions and led by example rather than loosing it at the officials. Lead by example and show the other players and clubs that the mamagment of Matamata are taking the abuse of officials both on and off the field as something that does not happen in your club. Set the standard. Abuse is not part of the game. Play football and you will win some and lose some, but if it continues then there will be more cards. See you again before the end of the season....
ReplyDeleteNeil
We don't tolerate abuse. You guys weren't abused on Saturday. You were questioned, very strongly, but that's all it was. I'm sorry if you felt it was abuse.
ReplyDeleteWell there is not a lot of difference sometimes:-) I was not getting at Matamata it's sometimes a very fine line as to what is OK behaviour
ReplyDeleteand what is not. Again Just my thoughts:-)