Birrell comments on poor officiating

CHELMSFORD, UK – Chelmsford travelled to Oxford to take on the Stars in what some had predicted to be a very close game. Early chances at both ends of the ice cemented most fans thoughts that the game would go either way, however one person on the ice seemed intent on determining that it wouldn’t go either way. Referee Freeman at 18:57 sent the first of 3 Stars players to the penalty box on 10minute misconduct penalties when Richard Wojciak went in for a 2 minute minor for hooking and a 10minute penalty. On the resulting powerplay the Chieftains broke the deadlock thanks to a very impressive Alex Green finish who fired it high and past Skaife. As the players were returning to re-start the game the referee sent Abu-Saada to the box also for a 10minute misconduct and it appeared that the Stars discipline was rapidly going. As the buzzer went Stars new signing Andrew Shurmer went steaming in on Blaho Novak, only to be totally up-ended by the young forward who stepped into the onrushing defenceman and sent him sprawling across the ice. Instead of the usual melee that follows instances like that, many Stars players seemed to be laughing at their team-mate who had just been shown up by a 16yr old schoolboy!

The second period started in similar fashion with a goal to the Chieftains at 21:47 when Hammond slotted home from another perfect Novak pass. The lead was short-lived though as the Stars fired back on the 22:41 mark through Shurmer. Goal of the night came exactly 10 minutes later when Hammond picked the puck up at centre ice and took it round the defence man and saw a gap and slotted it home. Again the Stars refused to lie down and captain Darren Elliot took advantage of the Chieftains stopping play as they thought the whistle had gone to wash out an alleged goal, but only to find the whistle hadn’t gone and Elliot tapped home with ease. The Chieftains made it 4-2 at 38:57 when Jerry Pavlus was set up by Wright and Hammond and scored a comfortable goal. It looked to be one-way traffic now, but the Stars had other ideas as the third period began. 43:23 saw them pull the game back to 3-4 when a controversial goal was awarded to Forshee. The Stars clearly had a man infringing on Clements in his crease. However Freeman decided that rule wasn’t going to be used during the game and allowed the goal, much to the displeasure of Clements and the Chieftains players. Even Stars Coach Simon Anderson seemed to motion to the Chieftains players a look of “We’re lucky to get that one awarded”. With just under 5minutes to play the Chieftains hearts were broken when another refereeing error allowed Grant Bailey to score the Stars’ 4th goal and the game ended at 4-4. After the game Birrell said “We will take nothing away from Oxford, they were up for it and gave us a real tough game. I think we were a bit flat at times. I think Oxford deserved something from the game, but I’d rather they had earned their draw fairly rather than being gifted it”.Birrell went on ” It is the third time this year that we have had an incompetent job done on us and it is getting beyond a joke now. I can’t comment too much on the officials, but at the end of the day the guy was in the crease as the puck was shot and the whistle went before the puck went in the net, yet the goal was allowed to stand. Everybody in the rink saw it. The other team saw it and they’re laughing about being given the goal and we’re dropping points because of it. It’s not right. I don’t like to go on about referees because we need them in the game, but the standard just isn’t there. It’s just so frustrating and it’s getting beyond a joke now. I wish we could get these games filmed and sent to the league, not necessarily to change the result but at least to say ‘have a look and see what you think about it’. The main thing is though, everyone else is in the same boat as us but it’s frustrating for me as a coach to see some of these things happening and it certainly isn’t fair on the fans who pay good money to see the games”. On the same night in Slough, the Prohockeynews sponsored Chelmsford Warriors took on the Slough ENL Jets that was quite one-sided as they picked up a 5-1 win. Ricky Mills notched a brace before being thrown out for abuse of official, while Ben Osborne picked up a ‘Gordie Howe hat trick’ and he too was sent from the game for being involved in a fight. Completing the trio of players thrown out, Will Polston fought Tom Weare and both combatants got game penalties for it. On the scoring front the remaining goals were scored by player-coach Craig Metcalf and former Chieftain Sean Martin. Man of the match was young Tom Foskett who had one of his typical high energy and high tempo games, while getting under the skin of his opponents. Both sides are in action this coming weekend with the Chieftains taking on top of the table Invicta Dynamos, while the Warriors play host to Swindon ENL Wildcats. Both games should be tough tests for the Essex sides. Comment on the story or contact the author Pete.lewis@prohockeynews.com