Quick red card ref may have been right

10:20am Wednesday 31st December 2008

CHIPPENHAM Town secretary George McCaffery has admitted referee Justin Amey may have been right to send off David Pratt in record time in The Bluebirds’ 2-1 defeat at Bashley on Saturday.

Pratt earned an unwanted place in football’s hall of shame when he was shown the fastest red card in the game’s history following his studs-first challenge on Chris Knowles after just three seconds at The Recreation Ground.

Chippenham manager Adie Mings condemned the decision, but McCaffery, a former referee’s assessor, says he can understand Amey’s action.

McCaffery, a former county training officer for Wiltshire referees, said: “When you jump into a challenge like that you lose control of your body, and you then force the referee to make a decision.

“If you don’t jump in, you don’t provide him with the opportunity to do it.

“It’s kind of tough on him (Pratt) because he’s such a nice lad.”

But boss Mings was outraged at the decision.

He said: “It was very harsh. Dave has got a bit of the ball and he (Knowles) has kicked the bottom of his foot.

“How a referee can make a decision like that within the first three seconds of the game is beyond me, especially when the lad has not received any treatment and has played the full 90 minutes without a limp or anything at all.”

Mings, who admitted a yellow card for Pratt would have been justifiable, said the loss of the forward had made a major difference in the 2-1 defeat.

He said: “Dave always puts in a good shift and to have him missing for his work-rate and commitment is going to be a big blow.”

Pratt, who is The Bluebirds’ top scorer this season, will be suspended for three games following his dismissal.

The previous fastest dismissal on record was Bologna’s Giuseppe Lorenzo who was sent off after 10 seconds of an Italian league game in 1990 against Parma for striking an opponent.

In spite of the loss of the prolific frontman, Chippenham took the lead against Bashley on 10 minutes when Scott Lye volleyed the visitors ahead.

Chippenham could even have increased their lead. Twice Luke Gullick went close and Ross Adams was denied by David Elm, while Chris Snoddy had to be alert to stop an effort from Dave Allen at the other end.

Bashley got the all-important goals within 10 minutes of the restart. James Rowe pulled the home side level from close range with the half just a minute old, and then Charlie Knight, formerly on-loan at Chippenham, smashed home the second goal nine minutes later.

Gullick drove a good chance off-target later in the half as Chippenham’s defeat was confirmed.

Mings said: “The lads showed real team spirit and togetherness, and to come in at half-time 1-0 up was a fantastic achievement. But we’ve had a five minute lapse in the second half and got punished.

“A draw probably would have been a fairer result.”