Controversial Goal Stops All Saints

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Football

Monday, 16 November 2009 14:20

By Nkrumah Gordon

A controversial goal in the 72nd minute of play helped Villa Lions salvage a draw against All Saints United when the two teams met in the opening fixture of a double header in the Digicel/Hadeed Motors and Observer Group Premier Division football competition on Sunday.

Veteran defender Garfield “Gary” Gonsalves headed a “big throw” from defender Byio Martin at the near post, but goalkeeper Keita DeCastro managed to get his hands on it. The ball was deemed to have crossed the line by assistant referee “Jarmas” Walsh however, which brought immediate protest from the All Saints United players.

The custodian, who was positioned on the goal-line, seemingly stretched backward to pull the ball from over the goal-line, which prompted the assistant referee to signal a goal for the Villa team.  

The strike nullified a 68th minute conversion from All Saints forward Roy “Ratty” Gregory, who pounced on a ball that had eluded the grasp of the Villa custodian, who was forced to dive to his left to block an earlier attempt on goal.

All Saints however, squandered several opportunities to score, with Gregory being the chief suspect. The player should have put his team ahead in the first half when he managed to break free on the left side of the field, but wasted too much time in getting off his shot. He was given another scoring opportunity early in the second half when he broke away from the Villa defense, but sent his attempt wide of the mark.  

The draw lifted All Saints to 16 points and third in the standings, while Villa moved to nine points.

 

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