Duncan Richards was one of two Penistone players shown red cards close to half-time in the 2-0 defeat at AFC Emley
Some spectators may feel they were short-changed by the lack of a spectacle, but at the very least the fines will go towards the cost of an astroturf somewhere in England and be of benefit to someone.
It was a game that probably warranted no cautions and yet two unnecessary red cards for Penistone Church’s Duncan Richards and Lewis Dickinson on the stroke of half-time will be remembered more than how victorious AFC Emley scored their two goals in the second half.
The sending-offs ruined the game by killing the contest in one fell swoop. That allowed 2-0 winners Emley to take full control of the Toolstation NCEL Division One derby clash
Up to then, it could be argued that Penistone had been on top. Ultimately the match centred on the arguments that followed an appeal for a penalty close to the interval.
Penistone felt that Andy Ring was felled by Emley defender Sam Jerome as he prepared to bear down on goal. Referee Jamie Waters, who had nothing to do until then, deemed that Jerome had played the ball and so play went on.
If you blinked you missed the next bit. Although what happened could have been avoided if Waters had just called Penistone captain Danny Howes over and asked him to have a quiet word with his team-mates.
Midfielder Richards, brother of manager Ian, gave his verdict on the decision at the other end of the pitch and Waters flashed the quickest yellow and red card you will ever see.
Even the Emley players were stunned as much as the crowd. Penistone key man Dickinson, for his comments, was also very harshly cautioned in the aftermath which had a major bearing literally 60 seconds later.
The referee couldn’t be blamed for Dickinson’s actual second yellow card as the striker stupidly flew into Emley left-back Danny Ryan in front of the home dugout.
Whilst it was mission impossible for the visitors, Richards’ side made Emley work hard for the three points.
Emley had to carefully unlock Penistone and only did so with two goals in three early second half minutes.
Both goals came from crosses and Alex Hallam was the recipient of the opener. He drilled the ball into the bottom corner from the left-hand side of the penalty area.
Young Sam Scrivens supplied the killer second goal with a superbly flighted cross for Alex Slack, who coolly scored his first goal for Emley.
Penistone goalkeeper Adam Rhodes deserves credit for a series of excellent saves in the last half hour including a stop from Anthony Leech.
Leech had a simple tap-in at the back-post and from a couple of yards out he placed the ball into the arms of Rhodes, who played a big role in keeping the score respectable for his side.
AFC Emley manager Darren Hepworth:
“The sending-offs killed the game because up until then it was a good game.
“For us, we didn’t quite get going. We didn’t play with any sort of tempo and invited them on.
“The sending-offs changed the game. The message at half-time was just be patient.
“We knew they would be organised and difficult to break down. Even when you’re playing nine men it is hard.
“We said to get it into wide areas and to make the pitch big. We did that well for the two goals we scored.”
Penistone Church manager Ian Richards:
“The frustrating thing for myself and the players was the referee was dramatic with the first red card because he issued it without thinking about it.
“Rather than talking to them and getting the captain over and saying ‘look this is your last warning, no more’, he sent our player off.
“With the Lewis Dickinson one, the second challenge was a yellow card, but he looked like he (the referee) had forgotten he had cautioned him already because he had issued the first card without thinking.
“There is blame on two experienced players, but a lot of blame is also on the referee for how he conducted himself in those few minutes. He could have handled it a lot better.
“If an assessor was watching I hope he’s going to speak to him about it. It was very dramatic and a very ‘look at me moment’.
“You look at the other team’s reaction and it was like ‘you have spoiled it ref’. They were telling him to leave it.
“The red cards killed the game. I wouldn’t say the referee cost us the game, but he was a major factor in us losing the game.”
AFC Emley: Lawlor, Scrivens, D Ryan, Slack, Jerome (captain), Brennan, Graham (Leech 70) Coduri, K Ryan, Townend (Jordan 70), Hallam (Spicer 80) Sub unused: Cooper.
Penistone Church: Rhodes, Cadzow, Howes (captain), Ellis (Jones 60), Whitehead, Lovell, Richards, Battaglia (Kenworthy 73), Ring (Exley 60), Dickinson, Young. Subs unused: Crossfield, Briggs.
Referee: Jamie Waters
Ref Rating: 5/10
Attendance: 150
Man of the match: Adam Rhodes (Penistone Church)
Read more views from Ian Richards and Darren Hepworth on Friday.