Match Report
In the words of Ron Atkinson “I never comment of referees and I won’t change the habit of a lifetime for that idiot.” It seems like an unRambler-like comment to make…let me elaborate.
We strained every corner of the club’s resources to get this fixture (which I hope will be the first of many with Kings Chester) and 12 players to the game on the day.
Unfortunately, the lads on the pitch were not to know that the referee had had a particularly unpleasant argument with his partner about how one of his socks had been unsatisfactorily ironed.
Words exchanged between players, mild protests (obviously don’t want to encourage openly disagreeing with referees) and unintentional comings together, all resulted in a flurry of completely unnecessary yellow cards. Unfortunately, 2 of them to same Rambler’s player and within 10 minutes Nathan had secured a goal every ten minutes ratio and also a similar ratio for red cards…his second yellow card for what didn’t even look like a mild foul.
Kings came back to equalise, the referee forgot about Sockgate (there were no yellow cards in the 2nd half, but there should have been none issued in the 1st half) and the game settled down into a highly commendable display by the 10 left on the pitch and a Kings side playing some great football. Both sides created good chances in the box in the 2nd half with Kings just about deserving a 2-1 win with all credit to all the players from both sides for making a memorable occasion from one that could have descended into referee-induced chaos.
Nathan commendably apologised to the referee at halftime, there was a further father / son connection with Keir Madders playing (his dad played at Shrewsbury), fantastic debuts for the 4ths from Alex Herod, Steve Williams & Matt Barrow and felt that all the lads who have played (Ted, Tim, Lou, Frammo, Noah and Max) before have already shown a marked improvement and are settling into becoming a real team…fantastic prospects for the Ramblers future, apologies to Nathan for coming all that way to be so harshly treated (but great you stayed to the end) and hugely excited by how our team is developing so fast. Well done to all…well apart from the one with creased socks.