TOTTON AND ELING V CHRISTCHURCH

SYDENHAMS WESSEX PREMIER LEAGUE

MATCH RESULT: 2 - 1 (MATCH ABANDONED AFTER 74 MINUTES)

GOAL SCORER: TOM JEFFES

1. STEWART KEARN
2. ADAM COSTELLO
3. DAVID LEGG
4. DAN CRUTCHLEY
5. STEVE LINPOW
6. DAN TAYLOR
7. MARK SMITH
8. MARTIN LAWRENCE
9. TOM PRICE
10. TOM JEFFES
11. MARC FAIRBROTHER

SUB USED:

BEN OSBORNE

The weather had the final say when the game was controversially abandoned after 74 minutes. It looked as if the worst of the wind and rain had passed but the referee after consulting all and sundry except one of his colleagues decided that it was unsafe to continue.
The larger than average crowd due to a number of assessors being present were treated to a slow opening with Church forcing two early corners but the home side who have been one of the surprise packages this season carried the more threat with their energetic work rate and neat passing and it came as no surprise when they took the lead on 21 minutes. Church have been exposed on the flanks a number of times this season and this time a cross from the right by line left a home forward with an open goal.
The rest of the first half saw Totton threatening to increase their lead but the half time score remained at 1- 0 to the home side.
As has been the case on a number of occasions the start of the second period saw a different Church and on 47 minutes a fine individual goal by Tom Jeffes brought the scores level. He received the ball some 30 yards out and with good control and pace he beat the home keeper with a fine left foot finish. The lead was only to last some 3 minutes though as Totton took the lead with a goal of comedy proportions. A throw in was taken some five yards from the right place and an innocuous cross from the right back crept into the corner of the net. Church came close to levelling five minutes after this after a goal mouth scramble but then the weather got worse and was in part responsible (perhaps the presence of the assessors was another factor) for Dan Taylor and a Totton player being given red cards after 70 minutes.
Play continued for some 4 minutes during which the referee stopped play on a couple of occasions to discuss the conditions with one of his officials and then to the disgust of the home players and officials called a halt to proceedings.
With the game being abandoned the goal scorers will not be credited with their goals but the yellow and red cards will stand which does seem rather strange. In addition whilst I have my moaning hat on the Wessex League handbook is rather vague on what applies to a game when it is abandoned. The writer spends his working week reading Income Tax Acts which are far from clear and on looking through the handbook it does not state if the result stands or if the game should be replayed. One suspects the latter but it would help all concerned if this was actually stated in the book.

Donners