Spartans left back Ian Watson cut a frustrated figure as the team coach headed out of Staffordshire yesterday. A point was gained by Watson and his team mates but the former Whitley Bay man felt they should have came away from Rushall Olympic with all three. Although he was quick to admit that the conditions made it “difficult” but still felt his side were more than good value for a win.
“I think we deserved all three points there. The conditions were hot and the pitch was bumpy so it was difficult. We try to get the ball down and we tried to pass it and play the right way. They were quite direct but (Nathan)Buddle and (Danny)Parker were excellent and dealt with it comfortably. We had chances and we should have won it I think”
There were two big decisions that went against Spartans at Dales Lane. In the first half referee Neal Pratt decided to only give Pics full back Jimmy Turner a yellow card for kicking out at Robbie Dale off the ball. Then to annoy and frustrate Spartans further a late foul on Dan Maguire in the area was only rewarded with a free kick and again the official only showed a yellow to Matty Wood despite Maguire being in on goal. Watson admitted it was “frustrating” and pointed out that decisions like that could be difference between Tom Wade’s side reaching the play offs or not.
“The incident in the first half is a red, no doubt about it. The lad is laughing that he only got a yellow and he knows he got away with it. With the penalty at the end their full back has even told the referee that the foul was inside the box but the referee has ignored him. It’s really frustrating when the two points we have dropped could be the difference between a play off place or not”
There was a hard working performance on the park from those in green and white, it was more than matched by the travelling Green Army. With Spartans supporters travelling from various parts of the country to give a rather raucous and never ending vocal backing to Watson and his team mates. The defender praised the supporters, describing them as “unbelievable”.
“It was unbelievable, just absolutely great to have them there. To be honest you try to stay switched on during the game and try to focus but you could still hear them, it was just constant noise. It was non-stop and after the game they were superb, I hope they have had a great weekend, it certainly looks like they have anyway”