Willenhall Town 2 North Ferriby United 3

By Russell Brown

Injury ravaged Willenhall were left fuming at this first home defeat of the season and one has to have a deal of sympathy with the Noose Lane side as they tried to overcome the disadvantage of being a man short for the majority of the game and overcome some poor officiating.

Controversy seems to be following the Red’s this season and in this game it took just 17 minutes to raise it’s head. United’s Danny Moore had lunged into Scott Colcombe with studs flying and the home midfielder’s reaction brought a straight red card, but to the home crowd’s amazement, no punishment for the wicked initial challenge was forthcoming.

Shook by that early setback, the home sides day was to get worse as former Hull youngster Carl Bradshaw fired North Ferriby into a 26^th minute lead and three minutes later the striker spotted keeper Nathan Vaughan off his line and hooked in a sublime, dipping shot from 35 yards out.

Vaughan was lucky to only be cautioned for his next tussle with Bradshaw, but the United striker should have shouldered some of the blame as he refused to hand back the ball after being caught offside. Again no action was offered for the visitors indiscretion by referee P.Carter.

The referee’s eccentricity continued and in his eagerness to award a penalty for a laughably theatrical fall by Carl Fothersgill, he overlooked the raised assistants flag until appeals from a bemused Willenhall defence brought it to his attention and the offside decision awarded.

Up against it, Willenhall brought on Justin Tyrell and Jason Smith on at half time and it was Smith who provided a sweetly curving cross that saw Gary Hay grab his first goal of the season in the 59^th minute.

However when United restored their two goal cushion after the Red’s failed to clear a corner and Fothergill twisted into the shot to hit the top corner of the net on 70 minutes, the Red’s could have been forgiven for letting their heads drop.

Instead they increased their work load and ensured their visitors a nervy last fifteen minutes as a quick free kick from Mark Swann to Smith bought another good ball into the area and substitute Tyrell converted from close range.

There was still time for the official, who was in charge of last Saturday’s FA Cup win against Barwell, to wave away Willenhall penalty appeals as Andy Thompson handled in the area and manager Rob Smith was left with the task of raising his players going into another busy week of fixtures after this frustrating defeat.

Willenhall Town: Vaughan, Colwell, Colcombe, Slater, Creighton, Field (Swann), Webb, Myers, Hay, McGhee (Tyrell), Jones (Smith).

Referee: Mr P.Carter (Ilkeston) Attendance: 106