Four red cards and touchline altercations came about during one particular National League North fixture on Saturday afternoon.
Boston United hosted Chester in their brand new stadium, however as a goalless draw played out, it got heated on and off the pitch during the game.
The Pilgrims saw Jordan Thewlis and Mitch Rose dismissed while coach Lee Stratford and Chester manager Bernard Morley also got their marching orders.
It was just four minutes into the second half that Stratford was given the red card, appearing to raise an arm to Chester’s Jamie Morgan by stopping Scott Duxbury from taking a quick throw-in.
Boston Standard claim Morgan was dramatic when it came to coming into contact as he dropped to the floor, Chester’s John Johnston was given a yellow for his part afterwards.
📸 MATCH ACTION: Eric Brown was on hand to capture the action as Saturday’s encounter against Chester FC descended into a fractious affair in the second half of the 0-0 stalemate: pic.twitter.com/30IpWcfwSs
— Boston United (@bostonunited) December 12, 2020
Thewlis was sent off for lashing out at Chester defender Kevin Roberts, who had tangled with the Boston man as play broke forward.
The referee decided not to blow his whistle early for the scuffle instead allowing the hosts’ advantage.
Thewlis was sent down the tunnel, and then so did Chester manager Morley for shoving substitute Mitch Rose as it got heated. Rose shoved back.
Boston United boss Craig Elliott thought the four red cards handed out in were harsh.
“Especially around the dug-out a lot of it was verbals really,” Elliott said, happier with the fight in his side in the second half.
“I didn’t see Thewlis, but a few lads said he kicked out. We made it into a tasty game second half, that’s what we had to do.
“Fair play to them second half, we looked a grittier team.
“How often do you see things happen in the background and linesmen let it go? It was frustrating today.”
When asked if happy with a point and clean sheet, Chester boss Bernard Morley said: “Yeah, yeah I am, thought first half we played some brilliant stuff, missed a couple of sitters, albeit they had three or four themselves.
“Really great end to end game, I think they finished the first half stronger. And then the second half they took control, for a good 25 minutes, and I said to the lads it’s actually quite pleasing, to be on the end of possession-based beating and not concede.
“And they had good chances, they had crosses and some good saves.”
“We go down to 10 and we should have won it at the end with Danny’s (Elliott)’s chance.
“Really pleasing, we knew it would be a tough game, they had lots of the ball, lots of chances, I think in terms of a confidence booster, coming away to one of the top sides, getting the clean sheet and getting a point, after a three-hour drive, you take that all day long.
He added the the two goalkeepers were the best two players on the pitch.
▶️ Jonno reacts to the goalless draw at Boston United.
⚪️🟢 #InItTogether https://t.co/4xhUrgV0JC
— Chester FC (@ChesterFC) December 12, 2020
When asked about the incidents off the ball, off the field, he replied: “Yeah, I’m looking straight at it, I’m in the stand, and there was a tussle on the ground, I hate seeing players getting sent off believe it or not for stuff like that because it’s not, in this day and age, you see him getting in a tangle, and lashing out and get into a bit with the official, the linesman. Kevin’s quite calm person, Kev Roberts, he doesn’t tend to react to things like that.
“Erm and then, stuff on the sidelines, just the usual, handbags.”
By this point he looks at the cameraman then smirks.
The interviewers says: “Of course, the red card comes 10 minutes to go, added time, and things like that and it’s been a classic away performance in that respect.
“You know you soaked up the pressure, that chance at the end, you must have thought that was the moment?”
Morley replied: “Yeah, we just said that to the lads. Prior to the sending off, if someone said that if you would blow the whistle now and take a 0-0, we would have all took it.
“And then once the sending off goes, sometimes we’ve done it ourselves, we go down to 10, you tend to dominate the game, sometimes the shackles come off, I thought they didn’t touch the ball, we had to wait for that one chance, comes to your top scorer, erm, and he’s missed!
“He’s scored a lot of goals this season, took a lot of his chances, and unfortunately he’s missed on today. And could have put the icing on the cake if he scored.
On their upcoming FA Trophy clash with Bradford (Park Avenue), he added: “The FA Trophy, is one of the most boring, early cup draw competitions in the world, every season you draw Bradford, Brackley or Alty, everyone from your own league and you look at the draw, the Northeast sides draw each other ironically, and we draw the teams from our league, so there’s never anything to get excited about. One thing is at least we’re not playing a team from further down the pyramid, cus we tend to struggle against them.”
His main focus is the game on Tuesday, looking forward to fans coming in, hoping to improve and look back on Saturday’s performance.
Fans reacted at seeing there was four red cards and touchline altercations during the National League North fixture…
But why do our managers have to get involved, they pull down the clubs reputation. No problems with enthusiasm but they are taking it beyond. https://t.co/0ZROxpNMex
— David (@DHCFC) December 12, 2020
What’s going on guys we’re better than this
— ryan (@trevalyn7) December 12, 2020
really lads
— callum (@_callumlilley) December 12, 2020
He’s got the biggest teeth in the league
— Ashley Wood (@ash_wood4) December 12, 2020
hahahahaha
— callum (@_callumlilley) December 12, 2020
Go on strats
— Ally Shinn (@bufcshinns) December 12, 2020
Hero
— Will Ostler ❗️ (@Will_Ostler) December 12, 2020
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