Toolstation NCEL Premier Division
Pickering Town 3-1 Garforth Town
New Pickering star Joe Dale tackles Garforth’s Mitch Hamilton
Nine-man Garforth Town’s unbeaten start to 2017 came to an abrupt end following the controversial defeat at title-chasing Pickering Town.
The Miners appeared to be capable of extending their four match winning run – their best form since the glory days under Steve Nichol in 2012 – in the first half after the ‘yellow and blue bandit’ Mark Simpson scored his ninth goal in seven matches.
But goals from Joe Dale, Lewis Taylor and Ryan Blott secured the three points for Pickering and increased their unbeaten run to 14 games. The second and third goals came after Garforth left-back Luke Kitson was controversially sent off – the turning point in the game.
Garforth were further angered in the last minute when Simon Poole was farcically shown a second yellow card after the referee almost restarted play after initially forgetting he had already cautioned him.
In his post-match interview, Garforth manager Rob Hunter described referee Derric Wade as the “worst” official he had seen this season.
No-one could dispute that Pickering deserved their victory, but it is likely that Garforth would have been capable of gaining at least a point if they had kept eleven men on the field.
For the opener, Paul Hagreen’s long kick downfield was missed by a Pickering defender. This allowed Simpson to sprint away and coolly finish.
Garforth’s first ire with referee Mr Wade came straight after the goal. Jack McMurrough went down on the edge of the box after winning a header which sent Simpson away in the penalty area. Simpson was about to pull the trigger when the referee incredibly blew for the ‘head injury’ within a second of McMurrough falling to the ground. It wasn’t the wiser thing to do as McMurrough got up straightaway and the visiting players made their feelings known. It was a big decision, one that ultimately robbed Garforth of a second goal.
Inevitably Pickering sprang into life and Hagreen made two excellent saves before Dale capitalised on a slip from right-back Sam Leach to equalise on the half-time hooter.
Referee Mr Wade got his chance to make a really big decision straight after the break. How he deemed that Kitson had ‘deliberately’ handled and denied a goal-scoring opportunity from a through ball is something only he can answer? Although Taylor spectacularly blazed the penalty over the crossbar onto the social club roof, it only served as a brief reprieve for Garforth, who now had to play the last 40 minutes with ten men.
One decision Mr Wade did get right was Pickering’s second penalty on the hour mark. That was how former Nostell man Poole received his first caution as he brought down left-winger Dale. Taylor made no mistake with his second penalty as he blasted the ball down the middle of the goal.
A third Pickering goal was always on the cards, especially since Garforth’s man of the match Hagreen made several further good saves prior to it. Ultimately Blott sealed the victory for the Pikes with a 12-yard blast.
The final word went to Mr Wade, who decided to make Garforth’s lives more miserable in the last minute. At least Garforth can chuckle that the official made himself look silly in the process. After cautioning Poole for the second time, but without showing the red, Mr Wade moved into a position to let Pickering take a free kick before someone informed him that the versatile player was already on his naughty list.
Sam Leach tries to cross the ball for Garforth
The Yellow and Blue Bandit (in pink): Mark Simpson celebrates opening the scoring for Garforth
Jack McMurrough (left) was involved in the first controversial moment in the game
An angry man: Garforth striker Mark Simpson makes his feelings known after the referee denied him a second goal
Pickering’s Joe Dale takes on Sam Leach
New Pickering midfielder Tom Claisse tackles Mark Simpson
Action from Pickering 3-1 Garforth Town
Luke Kitson’s red card will make interesting viewing on Garforth’s match highlights
Simon Poole, who was farcically sent off in the last minute, and his Garforth colleagues may have been better off visiting a local theme park
What They Said
Pickering Town manager Paul Marshall
Garforth Town manager Rob Hunter
The Teams
Pickering Town: Wells, Cooper (Robinson 87), Danby, Claisse, Bissett, Tilsley (captain), Thompson, Birch (Kamara 76), Blott (Dalton 82), Taylor, Dale. Subs unused: Ingram, Marshall.
Garforth Town: Hagreen, Leach (Dhesi HT), Kitson, Beaston (captain), McCrum, Donoghue, Poole, McMurrough, Turner (Rose 32), Simpson, Hamilton (Allsop 72). Subs unused: Turner, Hunter.
Who Was In Charge
Derric Wade (4/10)
Referee Derric Wade was very poor
Mr Wade becomes only the third referee to be awarded a mark below five since Non League Yorkshire started four years ago. He achieves it after a poor display which saw him make a big meal of three major decisions and lose credibility by the end.
In the first half, he blew up ridiculously too quickly when Jack McMurrough went down. Then in the second half, his observation of Luke Kitson’s ‘deliberate’ handball was wrong and cost Garforth a chance of getting something out of the game. The sending off of Simon Poole summed how up well he had been following the game. If you can’t keep track of who you have cautioned then you shouldn’t refereeing.
NLY Man of the Match
Tom Claisse (Pickering Town)
Tom Claisse made his home debut for Pickering
An excellent home debut from the experienced midfielder, who recently joined Pickering from Handsworth.
By the looks of the other matches the NCEL must have over spent at the Christmas party and sent these refs out to collect as much money as possible in fines. If Mr Wade usually refs like that he isn’t even fit for Sunday league so he is either way out of his depth or has something against garforth and knew exactly what he was doing
The Garforth manager should take a good look at himself . He constantly hurled insults at the referee and one of the assistants. He should learn to coach and not commentate. No wonder his players created such a fuss. Garforth put up a spirited display but were beaten by a better footballing side on the day.
Another card happy one at Glasshoughton Welfare yesterday. Spoilt a decent game. Very poor.
Nonleagueyorkshire is unbelievabley bias when it comes to Garforth and referees and frankly it is becoming boring! James being involved at Garforth Town undermines the whole sites impartiality.
Should get a proper hobby and stop slagging off others doing theirs.
In what way is James involved at Garforth? He holds no position at the club or any volunteer role.
The same happen last week when the referees sent Josh more from parkgate influence by the pickering players surrounding him to send him off for nothing.
Never mind Garforth wish you good luck next week. It is always the same…..
Football fan, you dont happen to have biased ties to a another manager do you? Becoming a little bit petty and boring now. Although it does give people a good chuckle so please keep it up.
Also if you bothered with the whole article you would have heard the Pickering manager comment that Garforth were hard done by with regards to the ref so hardly James being biased
If you had took the time to read my comment it was more the resounding repeatation of the comments about referees, not just this match.
The referees are on a level with players at this level so we all need to get off of there backs.
It seems that NLY and Mr Grayson need to jump on the blame the referee bandwagon to get readers, something Bootifull game don’t do and no need to do.
I hand on heart have no allegiances to any football club in the NCE or Norrhern Prem.
In reply to Ian , no one is saying Garforth would have beaten Pickering the other day , there is no doubt that they are a fine side , but we were winning , and had play pulled back when in a goal scoring position to possibly go 2 nil up , however i feel that in this instance the ref thought that the Garforth lad was in a bad way so he stopped play but, you only have to look at the footage to see why the Garforth contingent were mystified by the refs performance ,
just to clarify , the above comments are by Gary Marsh and not Andrew Marsh