6s' CUP RUN COMES TO FRUSTRATING END

As this match was officiated by a referee apparently determined not to let too much play take place, there was sadly not much action on which to report.

Sutts took an early lead when, despite having screamed ‘DON’T PASS TO ME, I’M OFFSIDE!’, Sutts’ striker found himself being passed the ball by his teammate in any case before placing it past Cibardo from close range. The goal was allowed to stand and, once again, the 6s found themselves going behind early in a match.

As always, though, Boro came back strongly and were extremely unlucky to still be behind at half-time following a string of chances which they just couldn’t get over the line.

Shortly after the restart, though, good work in the opposition box from Mills and Black, led to a well-deserved equaliser as Matuska stormed onto a loose ball to smash in his second of the season. Game on.

Or so everyone thought. Three minutes later, an innocuous-looking incident in the Wandsworth area was adjudged by the referee, from his chosen position of 70 yards from the ball, to be a penalty to the utter disbelief of both sets of players. Sutts didn’t wait to look the gift horse in the mouth, though, and smashed in a low spot-kick that gave Cibardo no chance.

Again, Boro rallied and pushed forward in search of another equaliser, but lost momentum when Swirkowski was controversially sin-binned. When, finally, the team was restored to 11 men there was very little time left in the game to get that elusive goal - although, with late chances for Matuska and Mills going wide, things could have ended very differently.

Disappointment, then for Boro as the promise of a 6s v 5s quarter-final faded away despite not having conceded a legitimate goal during the game. Now their focus must turn to the league and, as over the course of the season there are bound to be a few more poor refereeing performances along the way, the team needs to learn quickly to respond better in those situations.