Aveley lose due to a dubious penalty decision

Normally I'm full of disappointed at the players for losing a game, but not today, as everyone gave it their all against a team who didn't really look top of the Ryman South.

Paul Preston and George Essuman were both debutants today, and with two changes at our defence, they looked solid throughout.

The Millers started the game well, Sammy Knott recovered the ball well after losing it, played it into Matty Bakare to use his pace, but the cross just went out for a goal kick. Paul Preston then made a great run down the right hand side as he got past two players, the referee could have played on with Aveley in a great position but for some reason pulled the game back, without giving any talking to or booking.

Sammy Knott was the next player to dance round the opposition to the edge of the area, but this time his shot just whistled over the bar.

Burgess then attacked with a long ball their number nine falls down after running with George Essuman, and the referee awarded a free kick in a dangerous position. It was a good ball into the back post by Luer, but the header was miles over the bar.

Late tackle by Sammy Knott on Darren Budd, handed a yellow card. Another free kick in dangerous area, and again over the bar by Will Miles.

Aveley then played the ball up to Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe, and Will Miles elbow first straight through the back of Junior, the referee awards the free kick, but somehow doesn't give a yellow card, or even a red. If he's seen the elbow and the free kick, letter of the law he has to use the cards that are in his pocket.

Next passage of play for the Millers, the ball broke for Alex Stavrinou who from 30 yards out decided to shoot, when he did have other players around him to pass it to, on a three-by-three situation, his shot just went over the bar.

The last chance of the first half fell to Burgess Hill, for the first time they got in behind and Dan Purry did all he could to score, but the most consistent keeper in non-league football, James Marrable, pulled off a worldy to keep the scores level going into half time.

Half Time- Burgess Hill 0-0 AVELEY FC.

There was nothing in the game, but that all changed due to some of the worst decisions I have ever seen in watching 16 years of football.

Burgess Hill corner came into the box, Junior Baker cleared the ball after a scramble out for a throw in to Burgess Hill,che referee then blew his whilstle, he didn't signal for anything, then he started talking to a Burgess Hill player, and looked to have given a free kick, he then started talking to Junior Baker and all of a sudden he awarded a penalty. No one appealed, the fans behind the goal were silent, the 7 Burgess Hill players in the box were silent, nobody saw it as a penalty, but for one man, the referee.

Luer stepped up and smashed it down the middle, maybe James Marrable could've saved it, but with the horrific sunlight in his eyes, you can't really be over critical of him. Burgess Hill 1-0 AVELEY FC.

Two substitutions followed in the 68th and 73rd minute. The first was captain Billy Holland being replaced by Danny Francis. The second was George Essuman landed awkwardly on his knee after heading away a ball, and he had to be replaced, and on his comeback from injury Billy Sendall returned on the pitch for the first time since our 2-1 defeat to Dereham Town.

Danny Francis was straight into the action, he flicked the ball over a defenders head, and as the second defender came across to clear it, it smashed against his arm, clear as day, stonewall penalty, but the referee seemed to just ignore it, and act like it he had legs for arms.

Marcus Elliott then came off for Lee Weemes.

Danny Francis again does brilliantly, cuts in from right hand side, but shoots from such a tight angle and hits the woodwork and it goes out for a goal kick, so unlucky.

The Millers were pilling on the pressure, Billy Sendall then took a long throw into the box towards Lee Weemes who won the header, but the linesman had his flag up for offside. Offside from a throw in, obviously the referee knows his linesman is wrong, because everyone knows you can't be offside from a throw in. Lee Weems was given offside, which summed up our day at Burgess Hill.

We deserved more from the game, shame that two good footballing teams can't go out and prove who is the better side by just playing football, but again one of those days were nothing goes our way.

Full Time- Burgess Hill 1-0 AVELEY FC.