Business as usual for victimised City

despair year upon year - Mazza

Referee Russell Booth gifted Chester their goals on Tuesday night by awarding a debatable penalty and ignoring a shove on Alan Marriott in the first goal. He then managed to send off Paul Morgan into the bargain eclipsing the antics of Mick Fletcher last season. In that fixture Fletcher gifted Kevin Ellison an equaliser by allowing a indirect free kick to go straight in after a debatable pass back decision in the area. He compounded the misery by sending off Marcus Richardson in the last minute for illegal use of the elbow. Ironically enough Marcus was playing for new club Chester against City under Booths watchful eye.

Both goals on Tuesday should have been strongly questioned. Richardson appeared to shove Alan Marriott in the build up to the first goal, with Mazza being booked for his protests. When Morgan won the ball cleanly in the final minutes it should have been panic over for City, but Booth intervened and gifted Chester a lifeline they barely deserved. Morgan did remonstrate a little too physically and found himself heading for an early bath.

It seems sad that in todays game one man can still alter the outcome of a game matter not how much effort a team puts in. Time after time last season (twice against Southend and at home to Chester) and time after time the season before that (Huddersfield away in the league and play offs) and as far back as one can remember City have been the victims of decisions that cost points. It seems once again the man in the middle will ultimately decide Citys fate.