Re: League Two
Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 9:46 am
Two games to report:
Bradford 1 Crawley 2 Tuesday 27 March.
I was not able to go to this match which was re-arranged after frozen weather earlier this year. Being a Tuesday night, with a return home something like 04:00 AM, it was not economical to run the independent coach. It seems I missed a spectacle, for the wrong reasons, that has resulted in world-wide coverage of the brawl after the game. I had to make do with live audio coverage from the Reds Player.
The first half saw no goals and the teams seemed balanced. Crawley took the lead in the 54th minute from a goal by Leon Clarke with a headed goal. Bradford came back in the 72nd minute when their Chris Dagnall headed home. On 76mins, Gary Alexander headed a goal that was to seal the result. 2-1 to Crawley.
Then, as the players were being applauded after full time, something kicked off and a fight broke out. Not 'handbags' but a real fight. The Referee and officials were unable to stop it and it seems that the police had to intervene to restore order. After all of this, the Referee summoned three Bradford players and two Crawley players into his room and issued Red cards to those five players, Pablo Mills and Claude Davis for Crawley will now have to serve bans that might well be increased by the F.A. Just what we didn't need The F.A. will announce any further sanctions later. I hope that points deductions will not be part of those sanctions, it seems unlikely as the last time points were deducted was 22 years ago. What seems likely is hefty fines for both clubs and extensions to the bans already automatically imposed through the Red cards.
I have looked at all the video clips shown on news channels and the internet and whilst they seem to suggest that Bradford were the chief aggressors with us fighting back they are only clips and don't reveal what started it all. The F.A. will have more footage available, and testimony from witnesses to go on. We will have to trust their judgement on this occasion. Any appeal by either club, unless very well founded, would probably result in increased punishment. We will have to, sorry!, take this on the chin and move on.
Crawley 3 Rotherham 0 sat 24th March
For most of the first half, Crawley really didn't look very good at all. Rotherham were poor but so were we. Things started to change just before half time when Billy Clarke put us ahead
There must have been a Steve Evans roasting during the break and Crawley came out firing on all cylinders! In the 51st minute Bulman was fouled in the box and a penalty was awarded. Alexander placed the penalty well 2-0
In the 68th minute, captain Pablo Mills headed home our third to put it beyond doubt
Although the statistics show that Crawley dominated the match possession wise, the first half except the late goal left a lot to be desired. Still a valuable three points to help us towards the automatic promotion spots
Fingers now crossed that any further sanctions imposed by the F.A. are not too crippling for either club...
Next up is our away trip on Saturday to Burton Albion who are in 17th place. I'm booked on the coach and looking forward to the match. Hopefully the events above will not put us off playing well and getting the three points needed to stay in the race! Next at home is against Crewe on 6th April. By then our new East Stand should be erected and in use!
COME ON YOU REDS
Bradford 1 Crawley 2 Tuesday 27 March.
I was not able to go to this match which was re-arranged after frozen weather earlier this year. Being a Tuesday night, with a return home something like 04:00 AM, it was not economical to run the independent coach. It seems I missed a spectacle, for the wrong reasons, that has resulted in world-wide coverage of the brawl after the game. I had to make do with live audio coverage from the Reds Player.
The first half saw no goals and the teams seemed balanced. Crawley took the lead in the 54th minute from a goal by Leon Clarke with a headed goal. Bradford came back in the 72nd minute when their Chris Dagnall headed home. On 76mins, Gary Alexander headed a goal that was to seal the result. 2-1 to Crawley.
Then, as the players were being applauded after full time, something kicked off and a fight broke out. Not 'handbags' but a real fight. The Referee and officials were unable to stop it and it seems that the police had to intervene to restore order. After all of this, the Referee summoned three Bradford players and two Crawley players into his room and issued Red cards to those five players, Pablo Mills and Claude Davis for Crawley will now have to serve bans that might well be increased by the F.A. Just what we didn't need The F.A. will announce any further sanctions later. I hope that points deductions will not be part of those sanctions, it seems unlikely as the last time points were deducted was 22 years ago. What seems likely is hefty fines for both clubs and extensions to the bans already automatically imposed through the Red cards.
I have looked at all the video clips shown on news channels and the internet and whilst they seem to suggest that Bradford were the chief aggressors with us fighting back they are only clips and don't reveal what started it all. The F.A. will have more footage available, and testimony from witnesses to go on. We will have to trust their judgement on this occasion. Any appeal by either club, unless very well founded, would probably result in increased punishment. We will have to, sorry!, take this on the chin and move on.
Crawley 3 Rotherham 0 sat 24th March
For most of the first half, Crawley really didn't look very good at all. Rotherham were poor but so were we. Things started to change just before half time when Billy Clarke put us ahead
There must have been a Steve Evans roasting during the break and Crawley came out firing on all cylinders! In the 51st minute Bulman was fouled in the box and a penalty was awarded. Alexander placed the penalty well 2-0
In the 68th minute, captain Pablo Mills headed home our third to put it beyond doubt
Although the statistics show that Crawley dominated the match possession wise, the first half except the late goal left a lot to be desired. Still a valuable three points to help us towards the automatic promotion spots
Fingers now crossed that any further sanctions imposed by the F.A. are not too crippling for either club...
Next up is our away trip on Saturday to Burton Albion who are in 17th place. I'm booked on the coach and looking forward to the match. Hopefully the events above will not put us off playing well and getting the three points needed to stay in the race! Next at home is against Crewe on 6th April. By then our new East Stand should be erected and in use!
COME ON YOU REDS