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Card happy referee overshadow's Green victory

Despite seeing their side move off the foot of the table Slade Green managers Terry Malin and Phil Miles were furious with referee Andy Carter after seeing Chris Tuley and Ryan Hayes both sent off. 

Although a new referee to the Kent League this season Carter has already built up a reputation.  Two weeks earlier he sent off four players in the Hythe v Sporting Bengal match while on Saturday along with the two Green players he also dismissed Lordswood’s Ray Broad all three players receiving their marching orders for swearing.

The dismissals were quite amazing though as none of the foul language was directed at the officials or any opposing players, Tuley and Hayes swore at themselves in frustration while Broad vented his frustration at a team mate. 

During the opening 20 minutes, Green’s Billy Bond sent over a trio of tantalising crosses, the first saw skipper Tony Gallagher just fail to connect while the second was headed off target by Chris Tuley. 

The third Bond delivery produced the all important goal when following a foul on Gallagher, Bond’s free kick was powerfully headed home by Mark Penny.

Bond was again the provider on 34 minutes when he slipped the ball into the path of Tuley who having turned his marker saw his strike crash back off the woodwork. 

It took Lordswood a full 69 minutes to threaten the Green goal as Richard Bradbourne’inswinging corner was tipped over the bar by keeper Paul Vines.

This sparked Lordswood’s best spell of the game and Nick Berkhauer should have done better than head wide after Glen Barlow had drilled in a dangerous ball, meanwhile Radbourne’s curling effort from the left clipped the outside of Green’s far post. 

Late in the game with their only chance of the second half Green could have doubled their lead as Wayne Barrett sent Shaun Malyon through on goal only for his shot to dink just over the bar.

Lordswood: Slade, Skinner, Russell, Burnett, Radbourne (Overton 81), Peck (Allen 60), Broad, Berkhauer, G Barlow, Bucklen, Doerr.  Sub: Gallagher

Slade Green:  Vines, Lewis, Sabatino, Gallagher, Penny (Little), Barber, Malyon, Barrett, Hayes, Tuley, Bond. Sub:  Bowey, Abbott.