DISSENT, VERBAL ABUSE..........FOOTBALLS BACK

MALTBY MAIN 2 LIVERSEDGE 2
NCEFL PREM @ MUGLET LANE
3 AUGUST 2019 --- 3PM
Sport and football in this case are a reflection of society, discuss.

MALTBY MAIN FC V LIVERSEDGE

This is a blog I have thought long and hard about writing and cannot take any pleasure in doing but the falling standards in society clearly are evident in football, but do we even recognise this or are well all swept along with the flow.  By 3.20pm I had the words floating
through my mind dissent, verbal abuse, lack of discipline football is back here we go again, whether the 2 months of summer in rugby league and cricket has made me soft I know not.  Maltby is of course a tough place and when upon arrival I encountered along Muglet Lane a child turning out more 'f' words than I though were possible in one sentence to his friend it was slightly jaw dropping mind you within a few moments his mate was weaving past me on the pavement on a mini motorbike, welcome to Maltby.

THE TERRACED STAND AT MALTBY MAIN

A warm welcome was, I must make clear, offered by the gateman with admission paid and an excellent programme purchased the opportunity for a raffle entry was also undertaken.  The additional positives here at the ground are the displayed team sheets and again a superb public address system which was belting out 'I predict a riot' by the Kaiser Chiefs something that looked increasingly possible.

NEAT TEAMSHEET DISPLAYS ALONGSIDE GOOD PROGRAMME AND PA

The far end of the ground had a small gathering of local young men who were enabled to some cans of light refreshment and accompanied by a large dog that was making varying journeys around the warming up Liversedge players who were also receiving an extensive vocabulary welcome. 
By the time kick off approached a gathering of around 100 were ready for the 2019/20 season to begin.  The warm weather maybe was adding to what felt like a hostile atmosphere as early exchanges saw the home side appearing to constantly question the referees decisions and when a few moments later 'Rover' broke free and sprinted Usain Bolt style the full length of the pitch he was soon returning in the bat of an eye it still needed a small stoppage while our canine friend was re tethered and MMFC official went along to have a quiet word.

LIL SAVES LIVERSEDGE

The opening minutes punctuated with a jack in a box home bench who seemed to add to the fraught atmosphere by challenging most decisions were assisted by a small section of the crowd with some rather nasty vitriolic abuse with the FCB statement at the referee on particular example and we weren't enquiring about the Barcelona score, all this from a man around the 70 year old mark. 
Oliver Fearon gave 'Sedge an early lead converting well at the far post and they should have extended their lead before the break but for the superb work of home keeper Jim Pollard with both Michael Bottomley and Fearon being denied by his acrobatics.

GETTING TO KNOW YOU

The interval found the adjacent cricket match in an interesting position with Maltby all out for 51 and visitors Barnsley Woolley Miners 31 for 7 before rallying to win without the fall of any further wickets shortly afterwards.
Liversedge doubled their lead two minutes after the re start when Joe Kenny converted a sweet lob over the Main keeper.  To minutes later goal scorer Fearon was shown a red card for a challenge in front of the home dugout, it couldn't have happened in a worse place and all opinions were clearly received.  Maltby saw their chance and pulled a goal back on 55 minutes when visiting keeper Josh Lill misjudged a cross and Joe Austin powered home his far post header.

CLEAR SIGNAL OR WHAT BY REFEREE HUNTER

The level of intensity moved up yet another gear when as if by chance Johnathon Hill was sent off again in front of the Maltby bench who of course had a different opinion to this one as opposed to the last red card. 
Main had a head of steam up and it didn't not stop them equalising with just over twenty minutes remaining Gavin King converted at the far with an excellent awareness to set up the game for a full on finish.  You feared for Liversedge but they held out and I guess both sides would be happy with the draw.

ITS YELLOW

Football is back but the levels of dissent and aggressive attitude seem forever on the increase, referees must be more proactive I think the times of 'managing the situation' are gone.  Under their guidance its difficult and I believe referee Hunter had a good game by todays edicts.  Comparable to rugby league referees, like union, who just will not take any level of dissent/abuse this need to be brought forward by the FA with referees supported.
So the modern day pressures of everything now, challenge authority in any manor you deem fit and you see all around you questionable behaviour is this society's problem or footballs?  I guess its the former but football can go along way to getting its house in order.

GAV KING EQUALISES AND RECEIVES IMMEDIATE FACE LIFT

All the wrong way around today but the decision was made to travel from base to depart an express bus service to Sheffield before connection up with an X10/X1 to Maltby where I changed at Meadowhall thanks to a selection of rowdy kids and when on the upper deck of the X1 express service which is anything but taking around 1 hour 20 minutes to travel the ten miles I witnessed further questions for the opening gambit of this blog.  Fellow youthful passenger one large chicken and chips take away 1/3 of it eaten the rest just left open all over the seat alongside the two bottles of pop he had consumed.  When he got off with me in Maltby his discarded belongings did not follow us something he could so easily have popped in the High Street bin.
The walk down to the ground found Maltby Miners Welfare shut up with overgrown terraced area and sadly it appears that since about December it has remained that way.  During the closing minutes of the game it was great to have my faith in human nature restored discussing with one gentleman his attempts to secure the linked sports grounds of Muglet Lane for future use whatever happens to the Welfare and in that aim he and Maltby Main Fc are wished all the best.
Departing after the game through the north estates of Maltby and passing Trueman Green in honour of its own most famous sporting son Fred I guess he would have had a few words to say too.  By the time I arrived back in Sheffield I couldn't take anymore intercity bus travel and hopped aboard a EMT train for the return to base just before 7pm.