Somerset Division Two Cup Semi-Final

Winscombe FC 3, Highbridge Town 2

HIGHBRIDGE Town manager Matt Pitt slammed the performance of the referee after his side crashed out of the Division Two cup at the semi-final stage.

Matt Scott was controversially sent off midway through the first-half for two bookable offences and Pitt believes the penalty decision that led to Winscombe’s second goal was also incorrect.

“Today was such a big game and for the officiating to be as poor as it was, I was shocked,” he said.

“Losing a player so early in the game when one up was a massive blow and while the decision to send Scott off was poor, Matt really should have known better then to play the ball away with how pathetic some of the cards had been shown already by the ref - and with the Winscombe bench screaming for red cards this did not help the matter.

“11 versus 11, I have not a single doubt we would have won that game as we were well on top and all credit to the guys, when at 3-1 down they stuck in and gave everything they had to get back in the game.”

A breakaway saw Town take the lead – Kane Powell delivered into the box causing confusion and Tom Bailey nodded Town into the lead after 20 minutes.

Scott then received his first booking following a clash with the home keeper, who escaped card-free – and on the half-hour mark, he received his marching orders after being adjudged to have kicked the ball away following the award of a free-kick.

Town really started to settle then and a high ball into the box was challenged by Matt Scott who collided with the Winscombe keeper who after the ball had gone kicked out at Scott’s head in what should have been a straight red for the keeper but after the 2 squared up with each other shockingly Scott was the 1 booked and the away keeper had gotten away free without any cards.

It took Winscombe seven minutes to level after the break - when a scramble ensued, the ball took a big bounce over the outstretched arm of Town’s keeper Steve Bailey into the net.

It did not get much better five minutes later when the referee awarded a controversial penalty against Town keeper Bailey, who appeared to pull out of a challenge on a Winscombe player, who went on to dispatch the penalty.

On 65 minutes a defensive mistake from Sam Redstone allowed the ball to be nicked from him by the Winscombe striker, to run through on goal and finish well from a tight angle.

Town really started to cause problems and on 80 minutes got a deserved goal, with Taylor finishing at the second attempt - and on 90 minutes the ball fell to Will Bailey six yards out who headed straight at the keeper to end Town’s brave effort.