Border Telegraph | Sport | Livid over ref blunder

Friday, 5th December, 2008

Published: Wednesday, 14th November, 2007 13:30

Livid over ref blunder

By David Knox

Print Article

Coldstream 2, Selkirk 1

SELKIRK stumbled to their third league defeat of the season at the hands of local rivals Coldstream.

But they can feel more than slightly aggrieved with a few of the refereeing decisions – which included chalking off a perfectly good Craig Livingstone goal and turning a blind eye to a strong penalty claim.

Following the final whistle of this pulsating derby, manager Fraser Lothian voiced his frustrations.

He told the Border Telegraph: “We didn’t play as well as we should but I thought it was the referee who let us down the most.

“He said Craig was offside at the goal yet they had players on the line – it’s one of the worst decisions I’ve seen.

“All credit to Coldstream they seemed more up for the game than we did.”

The Streamers went in front after only six minutes – exposing Selkirk’s lack of pace at the back – with Lee Lambert striding clear to slip the ball beyond John Dodds.

Livingstone’s perfectly-weighted through ball to Craig Tyson was side footed inches past as Selkirk searched for an equalizer.

But it was the home side who looked the most likely with Lambert’s speculative lob from thirty yards just landing over the cross bar on 25 minutes.

Craig Wilson should have equalized on the half hour after Chris Anderson squared for a clear shot in front of goal, but he miss-hit his shot well wide.

Selkirk had strong claims for a penalty turned down a few minutes later when Michael Romanes was clipped as he weaved into the area.

Coldstream’s Richard Baxendale was unfortunate not to double the lead with a sweetly struck freekick that clattered the cross bar – and Robin Brown’s follow-up header flew well over.

Selkirk did find the net just before the interval with Livingstone turning six yards from the line to steer Ian Potts’ effort into the net.

Scott Agnew and David Brown were both behind the 20-year-old striker yet he was wrongly ruled offside.

Baxendale put the home side in front three minutes after the interval – heading home Mark Bolton’s freekick at the back post.

Streamers keeper Scott Lumsden made two fine stops – from a Tyson freekick and a close range Ryan Pritchard header in the space of a minute as Selkirk tried to salvage something from the game.

And on 70 minutes Tyson beat the keeper with a curling freekick that rattled off the post.

The visitors pulled a goal back on 77 minutes when Pritchard fantastically volleyed home Alan Jackson’s flick on from 25 yards out.

Despite late pressure at both ends neither side could find any more goals.

Social Bookmarking What are these?