Defeat down to decisions

Nov 9 2007 by David Triggs, Chester Chronicle

TWO key decisions went against the Blues at Bradford on Tuesday as they lost their unbeaten away record in League Two.

Boss Bobby Williamson felt the match officials made costly mistakes on both of the home side’s goals.

Omar Daley opened the scoring with a thunderous strike, but Chester full-back Laurence Wilson was the victim of a clear foul moments earlier.

Williamson said: ‘Some of our boys spoke to the referee on the park and he felt that Laurence Wilson fouled their man first. If that is the case, then I don’t see why two wrongs should make a right.

‘Laurence Wilson was certainly fouled, but the referee thought he had fouled their man previously – I don't know why he allowed play to continue until the ball went in the back of our net.’

The Bantams went 2-0 up in the dying minutes with a goal from Alex Rhodes, who appeared to run the ball out of play on the touchline before running into the area and beating John Danby from a tight angle.

A disgruntled Williamson said: ‘We felt the ball had gone out of the park before they scored their second goal.

‘The linesman didn’t put his flag up and our player (Simon Marples) stopped running which he shouldn’t have done, but to be fair to him he had already pushed on 50 yards in the opposite direction trying to create chances under my instructions to get us back into the game.’