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Eastleigh: I Think The Penalty Decision Killed Us

Posted by Kelly Gilchrist
Posted on Mon 5 Dec 2016
Posted in First Team

It was a disappointing end to The Shaymenโ€™s Emirates FA Cup journey as they bowed out to National League side Eastleigh 2-0 at the MBi Shay, as they missed the chance to play Championship side Brentford in the third round.

Scott Wilson and Mikael Mandron effectively killed the tie in two first-half minutes just before half-time. Good work from James Constable on the right hand side found Wilson unmarked in the box as he slotted home for the first. The the killer blow for Billy Heathโ€™s side was when former Sunderland striker Mandron tucked away a penalty on the stroke of half-time, after Josh MacDonald brought down Luke Coulson in the box.

We spoke to Nathan Hotte and got his views on the disappointing defeatโ€ฆ

โ€œItโ€™s always disappointing when you lose a game, I think the penalty decision killed us. We were fairly comfortable for 30 minutes, defended well and they got a quick fire double going 2-0 behind to give us a bit of a mountain to climb.โ€

The referee had a controversial game and certainly wonโ€™t be making friends in the Halifax area anytime soon. The players know that the officials have a tough job to do and they respect that but some can come across different to others as the former North Ferriby man knowsโ€ฆ

โ€œWe know heโ€™s got a hard job to do but itโ€™s so hard when some of them come across as being arrogant, youโ€™re trying to speak to them and theyโ€™re just not interested, itโ€™s just about them, that was the result of me getting booked.โ€

The most controversial decision from the referee came just on the stroke of half-time when he awarded Martin Allenโ€™s side a penalty after Josh MacDonald was deemed to foul Luke Coulson in the penalty area, to the disbelief of many inside The Shayโ€ฆ

โ€œI didnโ€™t see too much of it to be honest, but all the lads are saying the ball stopped, he got his leg around the player and stopped the ball dead. They didnโ€™t have too many appeals, I think the referee is the only sort of person whoโ€™s gone and seen it was a penalty. I think he already had his arm up before Josh has actually slid in, but itโ€™s one of them things.โ€

The away side stifled Billyโ€™s game plan of using Tom Denton as an outlet with Reda Johnson and Connor Essam being completely dominant in the air for the duration of the game. Playing Halifax at their own game it would seemโ€ฆ

โ€œTheyโ€™re a big physical team, normally weโ€™re the big physical side and outmuscle people but they were a well well-drilled team and restricted us to quite a few chances this evening.โ€

The evening went from bad to worse for The Shaymen with just over five minutes to play when Scott Garner received a straight red card from the referee after he was adjudged to have retaliated Jai Reasonโ€ฆ

โ€œI think the guyโ€™s come across him and blind-sided him a little bit, sort of body checked him and Scottโ€™s got up put his shoulder into the guy and the Eastleigh player has jumped himself on the floor. The Referee has sent him off and I think itโ€™s a bit harsh but Garner could have maybe known a bit better than to react.โ€

You can see FC Halifax Townโ€™s next fixture in the league at home to AFC Telford on Saturday the 17th of December, 3:00pm kick off.

Read more posts by Kelly Gilchrist

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