Rugbyroader

There was no conversation. If there was the referee would have had to give a penalty. It’s a difficult job but if a lineman buzzes to inidcate he has seen an offence then the referee should speak to him. The linesman thought it was a penalty hence why he buzzed so why wasn’t it given? No way you’d have got back into the game at 3-1 down with 10 men. There was another strange decision fir a foul on Wardrope just outside the box. A Talbot player got a shot away after it if but if the referee deemed that an advantage he should have pulled the play back as it wasn’t. Everyone around me thought that was going to happen but it didn’t. Another poor decision.

“cause I am a Champion and you’re going to hear me roar”

It was a couple of minutes before the Benburb equaliser. Talbot were pressing at the edge of the Benburb box. A Talbot player fired a shot and it hit the Benburb players arm. Folk around me all shouted for it and asked the linesman why he didn’t give it. He said he buzzed the ref i.e. he thought it was a penalty but the play wasn’t stopped and there was no debate between the linesman or the referee. Referees and linesman make mistakes and miss things but if they see things happening, pick them up and then don’t mhak decisions questions have to be asked. I think that was what Alan McCluckie was talking to the ref about at the end. It was a clear penalty according to the laws of the game.

Any way (or no way if easier for you to understand).

The Darvel game seemed to take a lot of of Talbot. Weren’t the same team against Hurlford or Benburb. I said after the Hurlford game Talbot would need to win all their games as I thought Darvel were capable of doing so and therefore one slip up and Darvel had the advantage. Look at the age and experience of Darvel versus Talbot. Darvel have a squad of older ex seniors. Talbot’s squad is players that are mostly mid 20’s or younger and haven’t played at the level the Darvel players have. If Darvel win the league it’s because they deserve to. I won’t miss their Chairman, manager or players if they get promoted. The whole thing is completely artificial and brings nothing to the league. Enjoy it while it lasts Darvel fans as it will come to an end at some point. Question is what happens then and will the club remain at the position it is at when it comes to an end or revert back to what it was before. Numerous examples in the past from Bathgate to Hurlford of what could happen.

There was no conversation about the handball against Benburb. I was standing next to the linesman. We all shouted penalty. Linesman said he saw it and buzzed but the referee played on. Linesman could and should have signalled to stop the game as he wouldn’t have buzzed the referee unless he thought it was a penalty would he. The referee couldn’t have seen it as the linesman was best placed to give the decision. If he’s said he didn’t see it that would have been an honest mistake but what excuse if there for not giving it if he says he saw it and buzzed the ref which indicates he thought it was a penalty but it isn’t given, play isn’t stopped and there is no discussion about it. It was at a critical point of the game as Talbot were 2-1 up and you were down to ten men. It hit his hand from a shot towards goal. It’s a penalty according to the laws of the game.

A draw was a better result for Talbot than Darvel that was why there was a roar. I thought Talbot should have won that match with the chances they created. Darvel had one chance in the second half for Mackenzie after a defensive mistake much not much else. If Darvel get ahead quickly as they did yesterday they would be difficult to peg back but if a team can stay with them they have a chance as they certainly didn’t look as fit as Auchinleck that night. Draws are killing Talbot but the referring decisions yesterday had s big part in the draw against Benburb. If the linesman buzzed for a penalty why wasn’t it given or why didn’t he put his flag up to get play stopped. Very poor as that would probably have been 3-1.

Referee and linesman had a poor game. Linesman buzzed the ref for a handball and penalty when Talbot were 2-1 up but not given. Benburb’s goal was flagged for offside initially but then overruled by the ref. Some very strange decisions.

Doesn’t help when the linesman says that he buzzed the ref for a clear handball in the penalty area but a penalty isn’t given at 2-1. Benburbs first goal was initially ruled off for offside but then given so the referee must have over ruled the linesman. Some very strange referring decisions today.

Darvel knocked the ball about well but then so you should given the experience of the entire team and the investment in it. Talbot have a much younger squad across the board. My only criticism of Darvel is their fitness as they fell out of the game in the second half and didn’t look as fit as Talbot. Saying that the effort that Talbot made probably had an effect last night as they looked to be struggling. I’m hoping that Darvel drop points but wouldn’t be surprised if they don’t. The issue for Talbot is they can’t afford to drop any more points and need to match Darvel’s results. The game against Hurlford could be a difficult one for Darvel given it’s a derby.

Consider the wages they are paying ex SPFL players, plus costs and compare that with gate receipts and you’ll quickly work out that it isn’t sustainable. If they publish accounts you’ll find out the wage bill and revenue? Did you watch the celebrations? They weren’t celebrating with their own fans or teammates they were on the pitch making gestures which you can only assume were to the Talbot players and bench. Classless. If you win the league and get promoted your team and a few hundred fans won’t be missed. John Gall will have to dig further into his pockets to support the team in the lowland league as it will be even more unsustainable. Enjoy it while it lasts as it will come to an end eventually. Let’s see if Motor Mouth Mick is as vocal about the injustice of the pyramid if Darvel get promoted.

Normally not an issue but if you are spending let’s say one hour each way before and after games and having to do that 3 or 4 times a week it will take it’s toll. Darvel weren’t the same team in the second half. They ran out of steam compared to Talbot. I’d go as far to say they were trying to run down the click when 2-1 ahead as nothing was being done quickly.

Don’t disagree. As I’ve said the whole thing is artificially inflated and there are no links with the community from players to youth teams. It’s a franchise project.

The LL vote isn’t right and neither is having the OF B teams or any other guest teams involved but I wonder if Kennedy would be as vocal if Darvel were top of the league and looked like winning it. Looks like they might miss out on promotion again when the aim was to get into the LL and beyond.

The u20 team played in Glasgow till they folded. That’s even more of a joke for a team allegedly trying to be part of the community.

It was offside, the linesman did flag. I know but if it wasn’t it should have been a penalty as the goalie caught him. Neither Boylan or the goalie knew it had been flagged when going for the ball. He didn’t deserve to be booked as it wasn’t simulation if the goalie caught him.

Look at their bench’s reaction when they scored. It’s in the video. Lacked any class. They weren’t celebrating with their own players or fans but were on the pitch making gestures. Also look at Talbot’s schedule over the last six weeks and going forward. Not much different from Darvel. Let’s see how the Darvel project pans out in the long run. I’m not a fan of artificially inflated clubs as it’s mostly air and lacks substance. It’s sustainable until something changes as it will and then what happens?

I wonder if Kennedy would be making as much of an issue of this if Darvel were clear at the top of the league and looked like winning it. The vote stinks as does having Colt teams and potentially other guest teams but there is no way of over turning it and making comments on social media isn’t going to achieve change. They’d be better offering free chicken and pies!!

They don’t train locally as until recently none of the players were from Ayrshire. Do the youth teams play locally? I’m surprised they aren’t relocating as they are simply a franchise just like the Black Roaster’s restaurants.

Watching the highlights I think the goalie caught Boylan’s foot so if it wasn’t off side it should have been a penalty. Why would Boylan have went down? Baffling decision at the time and even more so when you look at the highlights. Sone robust challenges from Darvel including the one by the left back on Samson.

It’s more than 2 or 3 times a month at this time of the year. It was meant to be as much as 4 times in ten days. Non of the players are local and are travelling from Motherwell, North Glasgow etc.

Go back for a normal league game and tell us what you think? Last night was not the norm.

This is what I think will happen at Darvel. It might take a few years but the train will come off the rails eventually as it has in similar circumstances elsewhere before. I don't think any WOSFL or Lowland League team can sustain that level of player across an entire squad. I actually think most SPFL teams would struggle. The whole set up seems completely artificial and out of kilter with the level of support or the town that the football club is based in.

And a World Scotch Pie Champion.

Pieman should get some money out to improve the floodlights. I thought they were poor last night.