‘Game has gone’ – Walton & Hersham in disbelief with decision fans call worst you’ll ever see

‘The game has absolutely gone’ – Walton & Hersham were left in disbelief with a decision that fans call the worst you’ll ever see.

Lewys Twamley produced an impressive hat-trick in a 5-2 victory for Merthyr Town, seeing them go six points clear at the top of the Southern League – Premier South table, with AFC Totton in 2nd.

The talking point however was on the red card for Walton & Hersham with referee Craig Scriven’s showing a red card to Junior Eccleston in the 6th minute for his challenge on Ricardo Rees.

The result meant that Walton & Hersham sit 6th with 34 points, and four points behind the playoff places, while Merthyr are top with 53 points from 21 games.

Five minutes into a massive away game visiting the league leaders.

The game has absolutely 𝗚𝗢𝗡𝗘. pic.twitter.com/1bi8YeW4ny

— Walton & Hersham FC (@waltonhershamfc) December 28, 2024

Walton & Hersham manager Billy Rowley tweeted: “Truly disappointed for our fans who made a 7 hour round trip, only for the game to be effectively decided after just 5 mins.

“We were genuinely looking forward to a proper contest against a top side in Merthyr, and it’s a shame it couldn’t play out that way. See you on the 1st 🦢”

‘Game has gone’ – Walton & Hersham are in disbelief with the decision fans call the worst you’ll ever see…

@esaum: Never a red – ridiculous. This notion that you cannot touch a player in a slide tackle is also ridiculous. It’s a contact sport – you can tackle and it is almost certain you may catch someone on the follow through.

@scotttalbot1990: That’s a red

@Alex_Fleener101: @FA when were you going to let the rest of the world know that changing the airflow beneath a players feet is grounds for a red card?!?! Could really help clear up some horribly missed calls by refs around the globe, get them more in line with your all’s superior refereeing

@MatthewMidlane: That rolling around is a disgrace – hilariously bad decision

@fleetsaints: Wow. Just wow. Officiating gone mad. Superb tackle.

@RobertWhanslaw: Ref shouldn’t be allowed to take charge of an under 10s match.

@zefrogi: The player reaction has caused the red card here. Blame the ref all you want, but it’s all on the player rolling about.

@_wardy5: Should never be allowed to ref again… The worst decision I’ve seen in a long time! 👎🏼

@CraigWood_: Fucking hell. I know he’s only young but he should never be allowed to referee ever again, that’s absolutely atrocious. 🤦‍♂️😂

@GHughes92: Wow…. Absolutely shambolic refereeing! 🤬🤬

@Andy120985: The standard of a large number non league officials is pretty awful. Seems to get worse season by season, Merthyr’s number 4’s behaviour is embarrassing as well

@Hemms10: Fucking awful referring !!! People are so quick to defend officials but when this is the standard it’s hard to try and get your head round !! Not even close to being a foul let alone a red card

@charlesstallard: That is shocking refereeing!! Great challenge.. Obviously it’s still the same conversation we have when referees haven’t played the game to know what’s a great tackle compared to a foul 🙄

@ianjdemaria: How can the ref give red card for that? Clear view of play and no more than 15 yards away.

@tommybrewer92: I’ve seen some ridiculous decisions in non league but this is probably the worst of them all – they think they’re so right aswell it’s a shambles

@AstroAndrew131: Every player in white should be ashamed trying to get him sent off for an insane challenge

@philrobins1983: Wow, best tackle you’ll see all day 🙈

@DaveDeeney11: Should never be allowed to referee again. For a sport that has so much money put into it why are referees at every level so incompetent?

@RichardJHoskin1: Referee has had a shocker.

@MarkFrake1: Outrageous decision

@philpark18: Absolutely ridiculous

@FulhamSC: Comfortably one of the worst red card decisions you’ll ever see.

@IanRiddaway: Not just the ref though, look at the reaction of the players immediately appealing and waving their arms around and then running at the ref. Joke. The games gone all over the park in this video.

@AndyMills07: Travelled from Swindon to watch the Swans today and the ref completely ruined a good game of football between two good sides . Two sending offs and half a dozen or more bookings in a game that never warranted that in front of 2000 shows he was out of his depth.

@MSearle1791: That ref should be made to drop down a few levels after a decision like that! He should be absolutely embarrassed with himself giving that

@shauntippins: I don’t like talking about about referees but he has had a howler. No reaction from the crowd or the Merthyr players pure guess from the ref did he even speak to his assistant?

@MarkHug35984630: That’s not even a foul, never mind a red card. Don’t know what the ref thinks he’s seen there

What a terrible decision, great tackle.

— Lee Trundle (@LeeTrundle10) December 28, 2024

This is a really interesting decision

— Specsavers (@Specsavers) December 28, 2024