Non-league side Bashley have written to the Football Association to ask for their tie with Gosport to be replayed after the referee missed a clear goal.
Gosport’s keeper booted the ball through the side-netting in frustration before ref Will Bull had seen it cross the line. He didn’t award a goal, believing that the ball had been deflected wide.
James Stokoe’s non-goal came with the score at 2-2 in the closing minutes of the match. Gosport went on to win the match 3-2 in extra-time, which left Bashley feeling a tad peeved.
Bashley vice-chairman Tim Titheridge told BBC sport: “We feel cheated.
“We don’t blame the referee for not seeing it, but we do blame the Gosport players for not owning up.”
Titheridge says the error has cost the club £10,000.
“We have also written to Gosport asking them to write to the FA, but we do not expect anything to happen,” he added.
Gosport manager Alex Pike was very understanding of Bashley’s plight.
He told the Daily Echo: “I spoke to my players afterwards, of the 11 on the pitch, two thought it wasn’t a goal, two didn’t see anything and seven said it was a goal.
“The biggest clue for the referee was that all 11 Bashley players were celebrating a winning goal and only two of mine said the ball hadn’t gone in. I have got a lot of sympathy for Bashley and thought they took it exceedingly well. I wouldn’t have taken it as well as they did.
“If the boot had been on the other foot, I would have seriously considered whether I wanted to stay in football. It was a good reason to give up.”
But Bashley weren’t the only losers. The ref was being assessed during the match. It’s unlikely he got a glowing report after that.
Image: Flawka
