[EoS Conference C chat 2018-19]

Preston Athletic 4 Blackburn United 3
Old Junior rivalries renewed after a gap of 25 years and that was probably the last time the Pennypit pitch was cut. Preston opened the quicker and scored twice, pouncing on a poor clearance to smack in a 20 yarder, before another shot from the edge of the area took a wicked deflection to send the keeper the wrong way. Blackburn started to get to grips with the conditions and drew level on the half hour mark through Darren Downie, first a fantastic header from a cross, the second when he was left in acres of space on the penalty spot and deftly chipped the keeper. Blackburn were in the ascendancy but as so often happens got caught right on half time when a 25 yard free kick was blootered at the wall and once again took a massive deflection into the net.  3-2 HT.   Second half Blackburn took the game to Preston but it was the home side who increased the lead via their No.10 with a lovely run and shot for his hattrick, but still we came back and scored with 15 to go via a Scott Wright near post header from a corner. Preston were defending like their lives depended on it and a fantastic last ditch tackle denied Hutton a shot on goal until the final minute of injury time when a long throw in clearly struck the arm of a Preston player but we were never going to get a decision from Mr.Gall and he instead blew for the final whistle.
Ah Mr. Jonathan Gall. I generally don’t comment on referees performances due to lack of linesmen making their job even tougher, but last night he had no excuse as he had the aid of two linesmen. It was the worst performance I have seen for many a long year and even the Preston boys (and the goalie) knew of his reputation. In the second half in particular he took to booking any Blackburn player who made a tackle, and it was far from being a dirty game, he compounded matters when we made a substitution midway through the half. The player coming off was frustrated at being subbed or his performance or both, he gets into the dugout and kicks a ball against the back of it making a clatter and sits down, something you see almost every game, no problems, no drama. That sprung Mr.Gall into action as he had other ideas, he came over & called him out of the dugout, booked him and as it was the second yellow sent him off.  The guy was doing his best to cause a riot, an utterly idiotic decision on the back of already bad decisions.  Someone shouted he should be embarrassed to take his money for this performance, he shouted back arrogantly he had already been paid.   Apparently this guy is “up and coming”, well God help us if that is the standard of refereeing we are going to have to endure. Remember his name, I hope we never encounter him again.

Was clear to me that Preston was deserving winners, Blackburn resorted to the long ball whenever they could and it never worked, ref definitely had a shocker but it was for both teams not just one, cant argue any of the Blackburn bookings to be honest they were deserved