Pitchero Non League

....after a devastating injury-time blow, after a Barry Cogan goal for Dover Athletic in the dying embers of the match.

It was a fiery game, with a number of melees, and the referee seemed to unable to control the game.

The Seagulls dominated long periods of the game, and Dayle Grubb’s free-kick that cannoned off the bar was their best effort.

Sahr Kabba up top, later replaced by Matt Huxley both ensured the Dover back line couldn’t rest on their laurels in possession but the cruel blow was dealt in the 3rd minute of stoppage time when Cogan’s 25-yard effort beat the once again impressive, Lloyd Irish.

Speaking after the game, assistant-manager Jon Haile said: “I tend to not comment in the press about referees, because over a season decisions going for you and against you balance out but I was absolutely disgusted by the refereeing performance at Dover.

“He failed to respond to two retaliations after tackles where hands were raised and one of our players was thrown to the floor. He also allowed two Dover players to throw punches, from behind in a cowardly manner and he completely lost control of the game, which caused several player melees involving twenty-odd players.

“He consistently ignored persistent fouling on our players and then booked Kane Ingram after not seeing the incident and listening to their players with whom he was on first name terms with some of them. “As for the performance our game plan of trying to draw them in and catch them on the counter almost worked.

“They accused us of time wasting and looking for a draw but I think they were just becoming frustrated because the long ball tactics they employed in the first half were so ineffective.”

“I can see why they have only scored twenty goals this season, as they only registered one shot on target in the first half, whereas we forced their keeper into two or three good saves and Dayle Grubb rattled the cross bar. “Overall I was proud of how the players applied themselves with every decision going against them throughout the game and it was disappointing to lose the game 4 minutes into injury-time but that is something we will learn from. “With Marcus Duharty on loan at Mangotstfield United to regain match fitness and Ben Hunt and Mike Mackay being released, we will look to strengthen the squad in the lead up to the heavy Christmas campaign but we will only bring in players that are going to really improve our squad and that can be difficult with the wages some teams are paying players, even in the divisions below us. However, we have a few people in mind and will be watching them over the next few weeks.”

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