Scenes of disgrace by Bedworth fans mar cup exit
FA Cup qualifying round II
Bedworth Unted 2 Rainworth MW 1
Report by Gordon Foster
DISGRACEFUL scenes marred Rainworth's disappointing exit from
the FA Cup at Bedworth United on Saturday, both on the pitch and among the crowd behind the dugout.
With 15 minutes to go and the Wrens trailing 2-1 their physio Dave Nicholls was blatantly kicked and floored by a member of the Bedworth dugout as he tried to return the ball into play quickly. The incident sparked a riot both on the pitch and among a band of drink-fuelled Greenbacks so-called supporters gathered behind the dugouts and in front of the
clubhouse door, who drenched the members of the Rainworth bench with quantities of beer.
It took the shine off an absorbing match which Rainworth should have had in the bag by half time, had they taken a few of their chances.
The Wrens had taken a deserved lead through Julian Topliss in the 38th minute, but the game turned on two Bedworth goals, one in stoppage time at the end of the first period and one in the opening moments of the second.
Rainworth made several changes from the side which drew 3-3 with Hallam on Tuesday. Jermain Hollis dropped back from his striker role to slot in at right wing back, while Simon Wright returned to the left back berth in place of Nathan Hollingworth.
After sustaining an injury against Hallam on Tuesday, Ant Lynam was passed fit to play up front where he was partnered by Julian Topliss, but Cameron Fearon, who also sustained an injury on Tuesday, slotted onto the bench.
There were starts also for James Whitehead in defence and Brendan Sweeney in midfield.
Bedworth included former Hinckley United midfielder Sam Shilton, son of former Nottingham Forest and England keeper Peter.
Home keeper Andy Kemp just won a race for possession with Lynam on the edge of the area in the third minute as Rainworth made the brighter start, while Craig Charlesworth dispossessed Ashley Robinson in the Wrens’ box as the home side threatened for the first time.
Jason Moore’s downward header dropped wide from Gary Moran’s cross, but Rainworth were quickly back in the ascendancy.
And when Lynam was fouled some 20 yards out Kemp brilliantly tipped Ian Clarke’s goalbound free kick around his post, Gilbert Cummins heading the corner away.
Kemp did enough to force Topliss wide as Rainworth continued to dominate, and Lynam’s 30-yard free kick skimmed just the wrong side of the post.
Twice Topliss broke into the area from the left, but on both occasions his final touch let him down when a goal looked porbable.
Bedworth hit back, and Charlesworth and Whitehead both conceded corners as Matty Blair ran dangerously into the area from the right.
Lynam should have done better inthe 34th minute after beating the offside, but needed too long on the ball and was effectively closed down by Cummins.
But the Wrens gained the lead they deserved in the 38th minute. Matty Lee was booked for hands on the right touchline, and the free kick led to a scramble in the box with several attempts blocked before Topliss finally put it away.
As the first half entered overtime Lynam blazed a path between two defenders only to fire straight at Kemp, but it was Bedworth who equalised when Shilton was allowed space to cross from the left and Robinson rose highest to head home.
Barry Alberry replaced Charlesworth for the second half, which was only 50 seconds hold when Rainworth were stunned by a fluke goal. Hales appeared to have Jason Moore's shot well covered but it struckthe unlucky Matt Draper and flew into the net out of the reach of the wrong-footed keeper.
The shellshocked visitors struggled to recover from the setback and Robinson had the ball in the net again in the 49th minute. Mercifully the relieved Wrens were reprieved by an offside flag.
Bedworth, who had been under the cosh for so much of the first half, looked a rejuvenated outfit, and Draper charged down another Moore effort then Whitehead did well to challenge in the area as Moore threatened again.
As Rainworth began to look for a way back the always lively Hollis made a fine run down the right, but crossed to Lynam whose effort was blocked.
However, Hales had to be at his best to tip over a wicked 35-yard free kick from Shilton, and then smothered the ball as the home side appealed for a penalty after two plyers had gone down in the area under challenges.
Kemp needed lengthy treatment of over three minutes after twisting his ankle, but opted to try to play on although clearly struggling.
But it all turned nasty shortly afterwards when Rainworth physio Dave Nicholls was kicked on the shin by a Bedworth player as he tried to get the ball back into play quckly. It sparked dreadful scenes including alcohol thrown by the home fans at the Rainworth bench occupants from behind the dugout.
Play was delayed for around five minutes, and the guilty fans sent behind the goal—they should have been ejected from the ground—and Kemp made way for goalkeeping coach Paul Shepherd before play resumed.
The incident took the shine off the game, but Rainworth still had two chances to force a replay in seven minutes of stoppage time, Danny Naylor and Alberry both finishing off target, but there had been much more time lost through the second half and the official undoubtedly ended the match at least three minutes too early.
BEDWORTH: Kemp (Shepherd 83), Moran, Lee, Connelly, Cummins, Allen, Koriya, Blair, Robinson, Moore (Beard 61), Shilton (Kabongo 90+3). Subs not used: Brown, Edmond, Petty, Lenton.
RAINWORTH: Hales, Hollis, Wright, Whitehead (Fearon 90+7), Charlesworth (Alberry ht), Draper, Baxter, Clarke, Topliss, Lynam, Sweeney (Naylor 58). Subs not used: Jones, Hollingworth, Wilkinson.
REFEREE: Robert Lovegrove MBE of Redditch.
ATTENDANCE: 210.
GOALS: Bedworth - Robinson 45+1; Moore 46. Rainworth - Topliss 38.
CAUTIONS: Bedworth - Lee 38 (hands); Koriya 90+5 (failure to retreat at free kick). Rainworth - Alberry 49 (foul on Robinson).
WRENS MAN OF THE MATCH: Jermain Hollis.
FA Cup qualifying round II
Bedworth Unted 2 Rainworth MW 1
Report by Gordon Foster
DISGRACEFUL scenes marred Rainworth's disappointing exit from
the FA Cup at Bedworth United on Saturday, both on the pitch and among the crowd behind the dugout. With 15 minutes to go and the Wrens trailing 2-1 their physio Dave Nicholls was blatantly kicked and floored by a member of the Bedworth dugout as he tried to return the ball into play quickly. The incident sparked a riot both on the pitch and among a band of drink-fuelled Greenbacks so-called supporters gathered behind the dugouts and in front of the
clubhouse door, who drenched the members of the Rainworth bench with quantities of beer.It took the shine off an absorbing match which Rainworth should have had in the bag by half time, had they taken a few of their chances.
The Wrens had taken a deserved lead through Julian Topliss in the 38th minute, but the game turned on two Bedworth goals, one in stoppage time at the end of the first period and one in the opening moments of the second.
Rainworth made several changes from the side which drew 3-3 with Hallam on Tuesday. Jermain Hollis dropped back from his striker role to slot in at right wing back, while Simon Wright returned to the left back berth in place of Nathan Hollingworth.
After sustaining an injury against Hallam on Tuesday, Ant Lynam was passed fit to play up front where he was partnered by Julian Topliss, but Cameron Fearon, who also sustained an injury on Tuesday, slotted onto the bench.
There were starts also for James Whitehead in defence and Brendan Sweeney in midfield.
Bedworth included former Hinckley United midfielder Sam Shilton, son of former Nottingham Forest and England keeper Peter.
Home keeper Andy Kemp just won a race for possession with Lynam on the edge of the area in the third minute as Rainworth made the brighter start, while Craig Charlesworth dispossessed Ashley Robinson in the Wrens’ box as the home side threatened for the first time.
Jason Moore’s downward header dropped wide from Gary Moran’s cross, but Rainworth were quickly back in the ascendancy.
And when Lynam was fouled some 20 yards out Kemp brilliantly tipped Ian Clarke’s goalbound free kick around his post, Gilbert Cummins heading the corner away.
Kemp did enough to force Topliss wide as Rainworth continued to dominate, and Lynam’s 30-yard free kick skimmed just the wrong side of the post.
Twice Topliss broke into the area from the left, but on both occasions his final touch let him down when a goal looked porbable.
Bedworth hit back, and Charlesworth and Whitehead both conceded corners as Matty Blair ran dangerously into the area from the right.
Lynam should have done better inthe 34th minute after beating the offside, but needed too long on the ball and was effectively closed down by Cummins.
But the Wrens gained the lead they deserved in the 38th minute. Matty Lee was booked for hands on the right touchline, and the free kick led to a scramble in the box with several attempts blocked before Topliss finally put it away.
As the first half entered overtime Lynam blazed a path between two defenders only to fire straight at Kemp, but it was Bedworth who equalised when Shilton was allowed space to cross from the left and Robinson rose highest to head home.
Barry Alberry replaced Charlesworth for the second half, which was only 50 seconds hold when Rainworth were stunned by a fluke goal. Hales appeared to have Jason Moore's shot well covered but it struckthe unlucky Matt Draper and flew into the net out of the reach of the wrong-footed keeper.
The shellshocked visitors struggled to recover from the setback and Robinson had the ball in the net again in the 49th minute. Mercifully the relieved Wrens were reprieved by an offside flag.
Bedworth, who had been under the cosh for so much of the first half, looked a rejuvenated outfit, and Draper charged down another Moore effort then Whitehead did well to challenge in the area as Moore threatened again.
As Rainworth began to look for a way back the always lively Hollis made a fine run down the right, but crossed to Lynam whose effort was blocked.
However, Hales had to be at his best to tip over a wicked 35-yard free kick from Shilton, and then smothered the ball as the home side appealed for a penalty after two plyers had gone down in the area under challenges.
Kemp needed lengthy treatment of over three minutes after twisting his ankle, but opted to try to play on although clearly struggling.
But it all turned nasty shortly afterwards when Rainworth physio Dave Nicholls was kicked on the shin by a Bedworth player as he tried to get the ball back into play quckly. It sparked dreadful scenes including alcohol thrown by the home fans at the Rainworth bench occupants from behind the dugout.
Play was delayed for around five minutes, and the guilty fans sent behind the goal—they should have been ejected from the ground—and Kemp made way for goalkeeping coach Paul Shepherd before play resumed.
The incident took the shine off the game, but Rainworth still had two chances to force a replay in seven minutes of stoppage time, Danny Naylor and Alberry both finishing off target, but there had been much more time lost through the second half and the official undoubtedly ended the match at least three minutes too early.
BEDWORTH: Kemp (Shepherd 83), Moran, Lee, Connelly, Cummins, Allen, Koriya, Blair, Robinson, Moore (Beard 61), Shilton (Kabongo 90+3). Subs not used: Brown, Edmond, Petty, Lenton.
RAINWORTH: Hales, Hollis, Wright, Whitehead (Fearon 90+7), Charlesworth (Alberry ht), Draper, Baxter, Clarke, Topliss, Lynam, Sweeney (Naylor 58). Subs not used: Jones, Hollingworth, Wilkinson.
REFEREE: Robert Lovegrove MBE of Redditch.
ATTENDANCE: 210.
GOALS: Bedworth - Robinson 45+1; Moore 46. Rainworth - Topliss 38.
CAUTIONS: Bedworth - Lee 38 (hands); Koriya 90+5 (failure to retreat at free kick). Rainworth - Alberry 49 (foul on Robinson).
WRENS MAN OF THE MATCH: Jermain Hollis.
From what looked like an evenly faught contest between two good sides, this game turned into farce within the space of minutes in the second half. It looked like the Rainworth physio was tripped by a Bedworth substitute, when the physio was trying to throw the ball back into play. This event caused the whole of the two teams to run to the sideline, and the following meelee, although ugly, was sorted out eventually by the referee.
ReplyDeleteI was surprised to see that the referee didn't send the guilty Bedworth substitute off, but even more surprised to see him only add seven minutes of time added on even though, through stoppages and the off-the-field incident, there should have been at least ten to twelve minutes added on.
I knew after that incident that Rainworth weren't going to score. Firstly, all the momentum was taken out of the game. Secondly, and more importantly, the behaviour of the Bedworth fans was diabolical. Behind the Rainworth dugout, they threw beer at the bench, and soaked the bench with wet mops! The supporters got so out of hand, that the referee had to call the police in, who turned up in a riot van. These "supporters" should be banned from football matches for life, as they have no business in the game we all love.
I believe that the referee, intimidated by this incident, was never going to give a goal to Rainworth, no matter how much time was added on. I believe that Rudy Funk should appeal to the F.A. about the match, as if this is what the F.A. Cup is all about, then I want no part of it.
On the pitch, I thought Rainworth were the better side in the first-half, and deservidly took the lead. Bedworth equalised towards half-time, and took the lead just after the break. I did think the Rainworth players gave their all, and although I am quite vocal during the game with my criticism, I was happy with the work rate put in, and thought Julian had a man-of-the-match performance up front, for his work-rate alone. I thought Ant Lynam looked tired, and in need of a rest, but he still gave everything for the team. I would like to see more communication from the goalkeeper and defence though, as I think that this lack of communication has cost us dear already this season.