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FOXES CLOSE IN ON TITLE DESPITE STUTTERING DISPLAY

6 April 2023|Match Reports
A er the Foxes momentous March effort which consisted of 7 wins 0 losses, and 28 goals scored,
with 5 conceded, Brislington had the chance to go 10 points clear of Nailsea & Tickenham with a
game in hand, and 11 points clear of Wells having played the same number of matches. The Foxes
were playing a re-arranged fixture at Ironmould lane against lowly Radstock Town who they only
narrowly beat 0-1 when the two sides met earlier in the season. On paper given recent form this
should have been a foregone conclusion!!
Now i didn't feel that this match report couldn’t overlook the omission of Striker Dean Griffiths who
was serving the first, of a four game ban for being ‘tripped by a referee’ in the Les Phillips cup win
against Keynsham. (Yes you have read this correctly) tripped was how I saw it!
The referee reportedly and rightly amended his report in support of the player, admi ng his ‘heat of
the moment’ mistake (giving Griffiths a straight red even though having at best having been equally
responsible, or you could say at fault by impeding a player who's bearing in on goal)!! However an
administra ve error, and the rule around me frames to appeal, seems to have conspired to land the
player with a £55 fine and 4 match ban. Incredibly there is no mechanism for the wrong to be righted,
no ability for a case to even be heard, witnesses to be called, air to be cleared. Obviously a short
hearing would have sorted the issue ‘fairly and honestly’ in no me at all but this has been denied
because 'the player' in certain circumstances, apparently has to appeal within 48 hours, oh, and at a
cost of £50 of course! With the FA’s mantra of ‘respect’ in mind, to respect a system which seems so
flawed, my personal message to the powers that be would be ‘do the right thing’ exercise some
common sense, show some contri on, and don’t hide behind the bureaucracy!!
Also missing for the Foxes were Harry Tobin & Ben Tucker, and returning to the squad was Oaklan
Buck.
A er a glorious day of sunshine we were looking forward to 90 minutes under the lights, with the
only moisture being the evening dew on the grass. Maybe we could be treated to a slick passing, high
ac on affair with lots of goalmouth ac on as these night matches o en provide. However
unfortunately this was not to be the case.
The home side, although not fluent, did push in the early stages although it was clear that the visitors
were mo vated and full of energy. The grass which was longer than usual because the adverse
weather had not allowed the groundsman to get the mower on to the pitch, was making it a li le
harder to move the ball, but the decision making and the shape was poor from the Foxes. There was
an uncharacteris c lethargy and a slackness throughout the team that could possibly be a ributed
to the ten day break since the Wells win, and for every good bit of play it seemed like there would be
a sloppy mistake looming somewhere along the chain.
Despite this, Brislington created the be er chances, Allwards weaving run concluding in a foul
offered Me ers a free kick from the le side of the 18 yard box. The kick rebounding off of the wall
back to Me ers who jinked past two defenders to fashion a low cross which was easily gathered by
the Visi ng keeper Laws. Then Doddimeads effort just in side the box from the right was again easily
saved by the Radstock number 1.
Radstock forced their first corner of the game on 12 minutes but this didn’t amount to an effort on
goal, and a minute later the home side were ahead. Brilliant work by the industrious Jordan
Scadding, saw the midfield man ba ling his way through two challenges before slipping in George
Jones who rifled his le foot strike from just inside the box, into the near post leaving the keeper
mo onless. Jones picking up from where he le in March scoring his 20th of the season. 1-0
Brislington
Seven minutes later it was two, a fabulous direct ball from Jordan Ricke s found Danny Doddimead
who’s perfectly med run saw him 1 v 1 with the goalkeeper who had raced out to meet him,