By Lawrence Mentesh

After losing to the top of the League last week Bonus Weeks were looking for a good run of four Games against the bottom four Teams, starting with Aluma on the ball-bobbling surface of La Marina. Aluma stood one place below Bonus Weeks in the Table after having won 2 and drawn 2 so they would certainly be the harder of the 4 Teams to beat.

Absentees for Bonus Weeks included Alan Belshaw and Richard Jinks who were both away in England, Mark Dooley who was still struggling with a calf injury and John O’Leary, Luke Swingler and Paul Davis who didn’t make it down to the Match. However, Bonus Weeks still had 5 subs on the bench including keeper Adam Musk who was back after a few weeks out with a bad hand. However, with Carlos Parkin deputising so well between the sticks it was decided to let him continue rather than rush Adam back in too soon.

As the Game kicked off there were a few spots of rain starting to fall but it was the referee who decided to rain on the Bonus Weeks parade when he awarded a very cheap penalty to Aluma after only 10 minutes for a slight push in the back in the area. The ball was placed on the spot and despite Carlos guessing the right way Aluma despatched their penalty with an unstoppable shot to the top right hand corner of the net.

This was exactly the start that Aluma needed as from the off Bonus Weeks had bossed the Game and continued to do so after the goal but the Aluma keeper was in fine form and he did well in keeping Bonus Weeks out at the other end.

Unfortunately, as is often the case in this League, the referee seemed intent on ruining the day with his over-exuberance to produce cards, a fact that was clear for all to see when he sent off both the Aluma No.19 and Richard Billam after just 15 minutes. It appeared that they both challenged for the ball cleanly enough, with Rich holding the Aluma player at bay with his arm in order to gain himself some space. The No.19, however, took great exception to this and aimed a punch at Rich right in front of the referee. Rich, to his credit, did not retaliate whatsoever, either verbally or physically, and in fact he even walked away from the incident. The Bonus Weeks players and fans were then totally gob-smacked when the referee also gave Rich a straight red card, reducing both Teams to just 10 men. The referees report after the Game stated that Rich had also punched his opponent but this was nothing short of a complete lie, and his sending off will therefore be vehemently contested with a letter of appeal to the League. Bonus Weeks are constantly trying to improve their discipline on the pitch but ridiculous decisions like that one do absolutely nothing to help our efforts.

So, with no immediate recourse for an appeal, Bonus Weeks played on with 10 men and they still dominated the Game but remained unable to make the most of their chances, Nathan Conteh, Chris Griffin, Alan Spurgeon and Pete Frank coming the closest to an equaliser in the first half.

With the second half came 2 changes, Lee Francis and Paul Wells coming on for Lawrence Mentesh and Adam Wilson, Adam would have stayed on but his long-standing foot problem was giving him grief again.

With some fresh legs Bonus Weeks started brightly again and had several more half-chances but the Aluma keeper was definitely in inspired form and it was going to take something really good to beat him. Step forward Nathan Conteh who had been pinging shots at the keeper all day without success but just after the hour mark he finally made one count, after picking up a loose ball in midfield he unleashed a great strike which the keeper tried but failed to keep out. It was a great way to get back into the Game and it really lifted Bonus Weeks but more drama was only just around the corner.

After some argy bargy in the middle of the pitch the Aluma No.23 was given a straight red card by the South American referee, a sending off that the player just could not accept, in fact so incensed was he that the Game had to stop for a full 5 minutes while his team-mates tried to escort him off but not before he had hurled a barrage of abuse at the referee including telling him in no un-certain terms to go back to his own country!

When the Match eventually re-started Bonus Weeks were urged to concentrate and keep their numerical advantage but this lasted all of two minutes before Lee Slevin was gripped around his throat by his opponent and when Lee told him to you-know-what the referee gave Lee his second yellow and sent him off!

Now down to 9 versus 9 and with the referee looking like he was lighting the fuse to a real time bomb the Game continued in a very tetchy manner but Bonus Weeks held their nerve and won a corner on the right. Chris Griffin flighted in a great ball which was met by a powerful header from Nathan Conteh which the keeper could do nothing about. This sent Bonus Weeks into raptures and with only about 20 minutes left it looked like there would only be one winner now.

Of course, the referee was not finished yet and when an Aluma played kicked Pete Frank in the leg Pete kicked him back and was himself sent off for his second yellow card of the Match. The numerical advantage now swung back in favour of Aluma for the last 15 minutes to set up a really tense finish.

However, Bonus Weeks should have wrapped it up 5 minutes from time when Lawrence Mentesh, who had come back on a few minutes earlier, raced onto a long clearance from his own defence and, after managing to hold off the challenge of a defender just over the half-way line, sent a sweet long pass past the last defender to send Ross Musk clear on goal but unfortunately he took too many touches on the ball, allowing the defender to get back and dispossess him.

In a bitter twist, the ball was then punted back down the other end where it ended up with the Aluma No.22 who found himself with space and time enough to hit a last ditch effort towards goal. Last ditch it may have been but it was unfortunately a brilliant strike which arched its way into the top left corner of the net despite the best efforts of Carlos to keep it out.

The goal was a real body blow for Bonus Weeks who had thoroughly deserved to win and when the final whistle went less than a minute later they felt they had been robbed again of all 3 points.

Another Game ruined by the lack of common sense from a referee, and it was no wonder that he ran immediately to his changing room and locked his door for a full 15 minutes! It was probably a very good idea as the Aluma No.23 was still very angry and was continuing his protestations right outside of his door. I shudder to think what he would have done if he had managed to get in!

So, some good football played at times but only a single point to show for it, but, although the referee made it virtually impossible for Bonus Weeks to win, Bonus Weeks themselves must also take some of the blame for not being more clinical with their chances and for not making the most of their overall dominance. The signs are still there for a good finish to the Season, but Bonus Weeks need to show just a bit more quality and composure if they are to stop dropping points against Teams that they should quite obviously be beating.

I still predict a top 3 finish and promotion, mark my words!!
 

update van woensdag 13 februari 2008  

Click on FCO Bonus Weeks for the games report.