HOLBEACH UTD 1
ROTHWELL CORINTHIANS 1
Frustrated boss Seb Hayes rued a “moment of madness” from Charley Sanders as Holbeach United were held to a 1-1 draw by Rothwell Corinthians on Saturday.
The title-chasing Tigers looked set to grab three vital ChromaSport UCL Premier Division points when Will Bird fired them into an eighth-minute lead at Carter’s Park.
They held that advantage up until the 80th-minute, when Sanders was sent off for stamping on a player in the penalty box.
Rothwell were also awarded a penalty, which Callum Plowright duly converted to earn a share of the spoils.
Hayes, who couldn’t hide his anger at Sanders’ red card, did feel that a draw was the right result and praised both sides for their efforts.
“It’s frustrating,” bemoaned the Tigers chief. “But it could have been worse with Charley being sent off with ten minutes left.
“It was a great game, though. Obviously we always want to win, but all of the sides around us also drew – so it’s not a disaster.
“I thought we were the better side in the first 25 minutes or so of both halves, but they turned it back on us both times.
“Rothwell are a very good side. They have no respect for you on the field – in a good way – and I really admire that.
“It made for a really good game. I asked the lads to match them and get in their faces, which they responded too well. Both sides went at each other for 90 minutes, but after the whistle we shook hands and had a drink.
“There was a point in the game when, despite Rothwell creating chances, I just felt they weren’t going to score against us.
“I was beginning to think it was our day, but Charley’s moment of madness changed everything.
“You can’t stamp on a player anywhere, let alone in the penalty box in front of everybody.
“It’s just not acceptable and it has cost us the win.
“That means he’ll miss three games over the festive period and will take his total amount of games missed through suspension this season to 20.
“It’s just too easy for people to wind him up. Players now target him and he’s got to learn to keep his head.
“You’d think that, after around 15 years in the game, he’d have figured that out by now.
“It’s very disappointing, but we have to move on.
“In hindsight, Rothwell deserved a draw. They battled well and we can’t claim to have deserved the win.”
Tigers: Tigers: Drury, Harker, Tinkler, Sanders, Jackson, Avis, Dougill, Zuerner, Griffths, Leckie, Bird. Not used: Cartwright, East, Edey, Fenton.
Attendance: 63.
