A COUPLE of controversial refereeing decisions marred a fighting draw between Port FC and Camden Haven Redbacks in the Football Mid North Coast Premier League on Saturday.
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FC and Redbacks scored two goals each at Tuffins Lane as a gale howled across the ground, and threatened to make the match a nightmare for the goalkeepers.
Jaryd Shaw and Matt Ramm scored first-half goals for FC. Shaw opened the scoring with a lucky strike from about 30 metres out which sailed over the Camden Haven keeper after being caught by the breeze.
Ramm slotted in the second from close range.
A mix-up in FC's defence led to the first Redbacks goal, and the men in blue were cruelled by the officials in the second.
The cross which set the goal up was played in from well beyond the byline.
Ramm found the back of the net again in the second half, but was ruled to be offside.
Dean Rounsevell could have sealed a win in the second half, but didn't bury a one-on-one.
That went with a strike against the post in the early stages and another controversial decision not to award a penalty when Sam Monaghan was brought down in the box.
FC coach Tony Wilson was disappointed but philosophical about not bringing back more points from the match.
"Considering the conditions, the draw wasn't a bad result," he said.
"We've just got to pick ourselves up a little bit."
FC takes on top of the table Wallis Lake next weekend. The Port team triumphed 3-2 over Lake back in May.
"The boys will be fired up for it," Wilson said.
