Monday 14th March 1977
EDWARDS SENT OFF – MORAN BLASTS REF
HAREFIELD UNITED 2 NORTHWOOD 1
Harefield United manager Peter Moran strongly criticised the referee after his side had just knocked Northwood out of the. Harefield Charity Cup on. Monday night. writes Barry Flatman.
The referee, Mr. R. Pardoe, of Reading, had sent off Harefield's Gary Edwards for hitting his former team-mate Gary Cooper, now of Northwood.
But Moran pointed out that Cooper had previously kicked Edwards and that the Harefield player was lying on the floor when he got his marching orders.
Moran also complained that the referee let a string of fouls go without even a word to the players concerned.
"The guy was completely out of his depth. He let persistent fouling go on and if that is the sort of thing that is going to happen I think we are best out of it", said Moran.
Harefield took the lead in the match in the 30th minute when Steve French crossed and Dave Cooper put the ball in.
Two minutes later Northwood were level when Martin Ellis scored after a through ball from Gary Cooper.
However, the high-scoring Northwood front runners, Ellis, Livingstone and Gary Cooper did not get much room against the experienced Harefield defenders, Mick McNutt, Clive Griffiths and Ray Ashplant.
Bobby Chambers was also making a comeback appearance after his cartilage operation but he struggled and was replaced by Dave Goodliffe in the second half.
On the other hand, club captain Alan Green did very well in his first match for weeks after a serious ligaments injury.
Harefield’s winner came from the penalty spot. Woods’ player-manager Pat Coburn brought down Griffiths and man-of-the-match Tony O'Driscoll slotted home the kick.
NORTHWOOD: Currell, Heslop, Harman, Merison, Gould, Livingstone, Harvey, Tidd, Ellis, G. Cooper, Mills.
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