Information according to BCFC site the Curo overspill car park is not available tomorrow and parking is limited at ground. Remember tickets bought online upto 23.45 today are cheaper. 

Red card for Welling

Straight Red or 2 Yellows?

We never deserved a result but that ref was ****ing terrible. The ref lives in Bath and works for their sponsor, genuinely shocking.

The most inept incompetent refereeing performance I have ever witnessed. Totally out of her depth. Absolutely clueless. Most Welling Utd fans were pleased to see a female ref as they are normally quite good. How wrong we were. Having said that the most we deserved was maybe a draw. No quality in todays performance. Plenty of effort but no quality. Onwards and upwards. COYW

Luke wrote:

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We never deserved a result but that ref was ****ing terrible. The ref lives in Bath and works for their sponsor, genuinely shocking.

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That can't be true can it? thought they had to be neutral to a degree. 
Regardless of how many shots we had, how good we were (or weren't), you need a level playing field. 

The Ref was absolutely shocking, way out of her depth. However she isn't the reason we lost the game. She didn't help our cause, but we need to look at ourselves.

We lost because we were poor and I think didn't record a shot on goal. Reece Grant missed a sitter from 4 yards out, and Gene Kennedy missed a one on one from 5 yards. The Bath goal was avoidable to. The striker with his back to goal seemed to turn very easily and get a shot away which should have been blocked.

There's little attacking threat for us, everytime the ball went forward we couldn't keep hold of it and Bath attacked and by not having anyone who could hold the ball up meant Elliot Long couldn't get into the game. I thought Bath were a poor side which is even more frustrating we couldn't get a result.

The sending off for Burchell was ridiculous, I didn't think it was a penalty, I thought the Bath Defender made a good tackle and that play should have continued, so was surprised to see Burchell get a second Yellow. The Kennedy one I thought was a stonewall penalty, as if he doesn't get fouled he has a clear strike at goal.

We badly need another option up front. Where's Anoited? Is he injured or just not picked? The bench yesterday had a left back, a centre back and three midfielders, no-one who can come on and change the game if we need a goal, Anoited coming on would have given us that threat.

Winfield and Kennedy stood out yesterday, hopefully we can put things right next Saturday.

-- Edited by Polo on Sunday 18th of August 2024 07:40:52 AM

It's too early to rush into major concerns, as this season only 3 teams have won their 2 matches, predictably Dorking and Boreham Wood, plus Farnborough. And our next match is against Farnborough. And our first 2 games were against Aveley and Bath, both teams in the play offs last season, so our first 3 games are tougher than may be obvious.

But some things come to mind from the pre-season build up, maybe Elliot's goals papered over the lack of goals from our strikers. Reece looks more focused on picking rows with everyone on the pitch than scoring goals, and he needs to remember his job is to score goals, not to be argumentative, and his goal scoring record for us isn't great, so he needs to focus on fixing that instead of stamping on opponents. He's scored at National League level, so has ability, but think about how Elliot plays, or how Sonny played, and then compare to Reece and one can draw one's own conclusions.

It takes time to move up a level, I think the step up has shown Anointed needs to improve his ball control (as does Reece), and play quicker, as it may have been good enough for the level below, but at this higher level there is less time on the ball and one has to play quicker, so it is up to him to show he can handle this move up a level. Some can, some can't, Rod's already shown this season he doesnt carry passengers, so it is up to Anointed to show he deserves a starting spot. I havent looked closely at Mardell yet to have an opinion on him.

But it is also a midfield issue, Jason Adigun was fab for us, sending up balls for the strikers to run onto. But apart from Elliot and Antony, our midfield dont have that creative eye for a forward pass, or to get in shooting positions. I see midfielders like TJ Bramble and Kennedy coasting along in midfield, not making much impact, not looking to make assists, not looking to get in goalscoring positions, so yes, one can say the strikers should score more, but where is their creative supply from midfield?

But it is early days, and as a fan said to me at a match the other day, the team we end the season with will be different to the team we start the season with, and Rod is seeing these games too, and no doubt will be working out what changes are needed to improve us. We are currently very good defensively, less effective in attack, but light years ahead of our start last season.

I trust the Club statement on Official Website regarding remarks made by a small number of supporters has been noted.

As I was at side rather than behind the goal I didnt hear anything so cannot comment. Lets hope we dont get her for any of the remaining Western games. 

I was also in the main stand with my wife, so did not hear the sexist abuse on Saturday against the referee.  If there was any, then the club is right to condemn it.

From what I heard from people around me (mainly Bath fans), the referee has officiated in the Women's Super League and in Europe.  That said, I would echo what has been written by other contributors.  It was a very poor performance from someone who appeared to be unfit and often well behind play.  My other observation was that while "warming up" there was a wave given, which was reciprocated by a number of individuals in the sponsors rows (black plush seats with arm rests) close to where I was sitting.  These were the same people I believe who Mark noticed who clapped at the end of the match.  If indeed this was a local referee with connections with the sponsors, as alleged (but I am in no position to confirm), that does not reflect well on the integrity of our League.

Mind you, by all accounts there was a similar refereeing performance the previous weekend (Truro City v. Dorking Wanderers).  This is part of the write up from a Dorking supporter on their forum:

"Side note - the kit clash was ridiculous and by far the worst example of it i've ever seen. You genuinely could not tell the difference from the stands. Everyone couldn't believe what they were seeing when the teams started walking out. You could see Marc and their manager were complaining to the ref (who was awful yesterday by the way) before KO but she seemed to deem it fine and started the game anyway. Those first 4 minutes were an absolute farce and you had no idea what was going on. When the ball went out of play, Marc and their manager again complained to the ref and she seemed to see sense and we went back to the changing rooms before coming out a few minutes later having just turned the shirts inside out "

 

 

Bexlyheath wings wrote:

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going back to the Dorking v Truro game she should have seen when she was giving the team sheets both clubs were wearing red shirts and should have said the home side will change shirts

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 Why should the home side change from their home colours? The visitors should have someone responsible for checking the home team's colours before setting off.

N Jones wrote:

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Danson Mark wrote:

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Bexlyheath wings wrote:

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going back to the Dorking v Truro game she should have seen when she was giving the team sheets both clubs were wearing red shirts and should have said the home side will change shirts

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 Why should the home side change from their home colours? The visitors should have someone responsible for checking the home team's colours before setting off.

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 Totally agree with that Danson, it's down to club secretary's to communicate, there's also something called the National League Handbook, which should every team's kits for the season 

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 Don't depend on the handbook. I used to be given one of them and the information wasn't 100% accurate.

Polo wrote:

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There were a selection of supporters whose behaviour went too far.

The club have rightly issued a statement condemning Saturday's behaviour, but where was the statement after the Taunton game last year, when the then Welling Manager threatened Welling supporters?

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 Likewise, I've stood alongside fans who have often shouted expletives which might comment on a ref's appearance e.g. "you bald ***", "shortarsed ****", and seen physical threats issued between coaches, officials, players and fans.  Can't recall the club being "dismayed" at any point during those exchanges which have happened several times per season for 30+ years of going to watch. Still hey ho, its a female ref so the abuse isn't allowed where as this week if its a fat or bald ref, the same level of abuse will happen without so much as an eyelid batted. I'm not condoning overtly sexist behaviour and aggression but would like to know if the nature of what was said was any worse than the other stuff I'm referring to, or indeed what Polo has said happened last year?

I believe times have changed and any abuse given to officials by fans can see the club facing discipline from the FA. Its getting difficult to retain and recruit officials and the leagues and FA are getting tough. 

The bottom line is without referees we dont have a game. I have often thought would I come out on a dry bright Saturday afternoon let alone a horrible cold wet Saturday afternoon and referee a game of football only to be shouted at and given 90 minutes of abuse. The answer I give myself is fk off no I wouldnt. The referee last Saturday was blinkered to say the least. The referee last Saturday should not of been allocated that game because of her connection to the town of Bath and possibly one of their sponsors. Was she biased? Probably not but each decision against us was highlighted by her connections to Bath. Was the challenge on Gene Kennedy in the penalty area a penalty. Im damn sure it was live and also what Ive seen on the highlights. Was the referee influence by her connections to Bath when she didnt award a penalty. Probably. She would say no but I guarantee she wouldnt have received a standing ovation at the end of the game if she had awarded that penalty. Bath lost their first league game and were under pressure to win at home. The referee wouldnt of been very popular if she had denied them their win. Subconsciously the referee bottled that decision. By the way it makes no difference whether the referee is male or female as long as they control the game and are consistent in their decisions. The referee on Saturday was out of her depth. Wasnt in control and wasnt consistent. It would be a good decision by the league not to let her ref our games again and certainly not allowed the referee Baths games again.

What grates about Bath's ref is evident bias, when Bath players were on the ground she rushed over them to check they were ok, with us she spent her time having running disagreements before losing her temper and spitefully and vindictively booking our people who disagreed with her. The odd thing is she's a highly experienced ref, so one would not expect so many decisions to protect her team. Jack's incorrect sending off was a shame, as there were 5 minutes to go, then 8 minutes of extra time, so who is to say we would not have scored in those 13 minutes if we still had 11 playing. Plus of course the clear penalty we had denied, so with a fair ref we could have drawn or won it.

I'm really impressed with Bath channel's extended highlights, so watched highlights of Bath's next match against Torquay to see how Torquay are, as some tip them for promotion, and the 4th official booked someone on the visiting bench, just like in our game. In the Torquay game one of their defenders bundled over an opponent just like happened to Gene Kennedy, and again they didnt get a penalty awarded against them.

Riverstown is spot on, reffing is not a lot of fun. I only reffed one game, and that was enough, as it was silly, both sides accused me of favouring the other side (which logically could not be the case) and the reality is just as players make mistakes, so refs will, as no one is perfect, and it isnt nice when one or both sides are angry at you after the match. To give some slack, some are on a learning curve, I remember one ref at our game ruined it with over fussy bookings and free kicks which made the game so disjointed I sarcastically said to him after the game "are you happy to have been the centre of attention?" but maybe he reflected about his reffing approach, as next time with us he was fine, let the game flow and played advantages and let silly little fouls go. But there will be a few who let their personal feelings take over, if they dont like the way a player or officials see them. It's summer, so time to get the rain jacket on for todays match!

Luke wrote:

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We never deserved a result but that ref was ****ing terrible. The ref lives in Bath and works for their sponsor, genuinely shocking.

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 Looking at some stats on rate the referee site. Not refereed at any NLS games since 20th August when she dished out 7 yellows. However on 1st April Taunton lost 2-0 to Bath where the good lady was in the middle. Not casting anything just stating facts.