In a perverse sort of way, and despite a 1-3 defeat, I think I have just watched the best game of football ever seen at WHCS. Certainly if I was a neutral, that would be my opinion. However, as a die-hard U's fan I feel cheated, yet again by referee Mr Kettle, who seems to be our number one party pooper of all time.

The U's had slightly the better of a flowing first twenty minutes where two sides wanting to play the beautiful game largely snuffed each other out. I have no opinion on whether Bean's deflected shot should have given us a deserved lead. Fair enough, I can't see from 120 yards away in the South Stand whether it was offside. However, why did it take so frustratingly long for linesman and referee to make a decision? Speaking to some Coventry fans after the game they felt it was a fair goal.

I can't begrudge the Sky Blues their equaliser – oops sorry, I mean their taking the lead. It was a well crafted goal and deserved for a fluent passing movement. At this stage, nobody could complain had it been 1-1, but Coventry now had their noses ahead, and perhaps that was fair enough in an enjoyable see saw end to end game where nobody particularly dominated.

However, Coventry's second goal was a farce. I reckon the linesman was flagging furiously for what could only be a foul, as I didn't see any offside (despite the latter being the BBC interpretation). The linesman was then belatedly over-ruled by Mr Kettle and the goal stood – hence 0-2. This had me shaking my head at half time, how could we be 0 -2 down unless the referee was on their payroll?

There followed more banal decisions in the second half. A number of Coventry and U's players were booked for innocuous fouls. Then prior booked Michael Rose kicked McSheffrey up in the air. How Rose then stayed on the pitch was a mystery, but let's here give some thanks here to Mr Kettle, whose decision making was inconsistent and bizarre. Then when Coventry sealed the points at 1 -3 there was more than a hint of offside. Although 120 yards away, even I could see that decision was wrong.

Had this been a court of law, I think the U's would have at least drawn on appeal on the basis of perjury by the officials. However, it seems to me that unless Mr Kettle is man of the match, he isn't ever satisfied. “1-2 to the referee” might have been a fair chant, and losing - given the U's performance - would be no disgrace, but 1-3 was the biggest snatch and grab since Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. I could understand the U's suffering this treatment if we were bottom of the table where luck often deserts you. But this was a cracking game of football that deserved far better officials.

In summary, I don't think the U's or Coventry deserved to win or lose, and the only winner should have been "football". However, it is chalk up 3 points to Mr Kettle. Let's hope he retires soon and somebody sticks sharp needles into him. But for the neutral, was a decent game of footie, but as U's until I die, I am gutted. See you all at 9.00 am Colchester North Station for MK Dons.

Photo: Action Images

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