Last updated 13:18, Monday, 25 February 2008

REDDITCH versus Workington games have a history of being feisty, controversial affairs and this latest clash at the Valley Stadium was no different.

Michael Reed

Walsall referee Alan Sheffield was at the centre of heated exchanges which centred on the award of one penalty, and the refusal of another.

Unfortunately Mr Sheffield gave every indication from virtually his first peep (I can’t even use the term blast) on his whistle, that he wasn’t the man for the job.

There was a hesitancy about his refereeing from the start; a lack of team-work with his fellow officials and he carried the air of a man who wished he was somewhere else on a pleasant February afternoon!

In many ways the match revolved around the two penalty decisions, because in truth the second Redditch goal in injury time came when Reds were still chasing the game and were not as conscientious in defence as they would have been in if all square.

The first key decision was on 67 minutes, ironically after Redditch had produced their only passage of constructive football in the game.

They worked the ball from midway inside their own half on the right, to the opposite flank in a flowing move which was in sharp contrast to anything they had produced previously.

Richard Softley tried to take on Lee Andrews down the left and hammer the ball into the box. The Workington full-back slid-in to make a block and the resultant cross cannoned into his hands which were in front of his face.

It was the old chestnut – ball to hand or vice versa, certainly Andrews knew little about it as he was almost down on the ground at the point of impact.

I suppose six out of ten referees would have given it – so Mr Sheffield was in the majority when he pointed to the spot.

Liam Daly made no mistake, sending goalkeeper Adam Collin the wrong way to give Redditch an undeserved lead.

Fast forward to the 87th minute and the Walsall whistler had another key decision to make.

Workington, surging forward in search of the equaliser, were pushing more and more men forward and substitute Michael Reed had joined the action.

He was bearing down on goal well inside the box when he was blatantly bundled over by giant defender Exodus Geohaghon – a stonewall penalty!

Nine out of ten officials would have had no hesitation. Unfortunately Mr Sheffield was the tenth and despite putting his whistle to his mouth, he quickly changed his mind and waved play on. Into injury time Redditch appeared to get away with a hand-ball on half-way and when Softley broke down the left again his cross was hammered home by substitute Damian Markman. It added salt to the wound.

Tony Hopper hit the top of the bar with a clever lob over keeper Danny Lewis; Jonny Wright saw a shot on the run tipped round by Lewis and in the frantic finish Hopper turned a good cross from Gari Rowntree against the post before the ball was scrambled clear.

Workington played all the football as Redditch relied on a more physical approach, getting the ball forward for Carl Heggs to scrap for.

They were dangerous from set pieces when the two Man Mountains – Daly and Geohaghon – posed a threat, but generally Collin and his fellow defenders dealt well with the Twin Peaks.

STAR MAN: A number of steady performances but probably JONNY WRIGHT who is starting to look more than a decent player at this level. Holds-up the ball well and gives Reds an extra option in the air.

KEY MOMENT: Given that the majority of referees would have given the penalty against the Reds, it has to be the second penalty shout when Workington missed out on the chance to score what would have been a deserved equaliser.

The vast majority of officials would have given that one.

Reds: Collin, Andrews, Rowntree (A. Wright 82), May, Gray, Johnston, Anthony, Hopper, Berkeley (Reed 82), J. Wright, Hewson. Subs (not used): McLuckie, Gullen, Taylor

Crowd: 380