Reserves go down to dubious penalty decision!!

Photo- goalkeeper Ross Welton who made some top class saves in the second half to keep us in the game. RIDGEONS RESERVES - SOUTH- SATURDAY APRIL 9th BRANTHAM RESERVES 1 HAVERHILL RESERVES 2 With Braintree continuing to win their games in hand the league now looks out of sight after last Saturday's poor showing at home to Haverhill (writes Nathan Burrell). After beating Wivenhoe confidence was good and only one change to the starting 11 was Kev Mann coming in for Chris French. Right from the kick off Haverhill looked up for the fight with some meaty looking challenges going unpunished. Haverhill took the lead after 10 minutes when a clearance from Ross Welton was block and the ball fell to their forward who tapped it home. It took us 20 minutes to create a half chance when Ben Green played in a great ball across the box which just evaded Danny Garrad and Adam Thompson. Throughout the half the work rate and pressure on us from Haverhill was first class and we just could not get to grips with this but Haverhill were giving us a sniff with some free kicks in the final third. From a free kick 25 yards out Ben Green brought us back into the game when his free kick found the back of the net. So half time and having played pretty poorly we were on terms so the Management team stressed to the boys start competing and earn the right to play our football. Ben Sparrow replaced Scott Cooke who had problems with a neck injury. This meant that Alex Drouet went back to left back with Danny Garrad going to the left flank and Ben Sparrow up top.Again we were second best all over the pitch with our only chance of the half falling to Ben Sparrow who shot wide when well placed. We huffed and we puffed but just couldn't get on top of a strong and experienced Haverhill team. In all honesty Ross Welton in the Brantham goal kept us in it with three top class saves when Haverhill did get through and on goal. We were then reduced to ten men when Ben Sparrow was sent off for a foul and as he clapped the decision of the referee he was shown his second yellow card. The first caution was for dissent but that was quickly followed by his second and a red. Quite amazingly these two yellows were the only ones shown by the young referee while some of the tackles going on in the game were certainly worthy of a caution so that was rather disappointing. Haverhill's winner came when from a corner the referee blew for a push in the box. To be honest he was the only person in Brantham to have spotted this and certainly there was no appeal from Haverhill,so that just about sums it up. So a disappointing result but congratulations to Haverhill who were the better team and deserved the win. So with 3 games remaining it is important to pick up the pieces again and make sure we finish this season well and maintain second place.This coming Saturday sees us away to Halstead. Brantham - 1-Ross Welton. 2-Ben Spencer. 3-Scott Cooke. 4. James Long. 5.Kev Mann. 6. Shaun Webb. 7. Ben Green ( 1 goal). 8.Alex Street. 9.Danny Garrad, 10. Adam Thompson. 11 Alex Drouet. subs- James Turner, Ross Cooper and Ben Sparrow. (Thanks to Nathan Burrell for a very honest report---barry felgate)