JERSEY BULLS manager Elliot Powell was not holding back in his post-match comments after their 0-0 draw with Cobham at Springfield Stadium on Saturday, where a controversial offside decision cost his side a crucial win in their promotion push.
“It’s an extremely frustrating result to take,” said Powell.
“I thought we were the better team and we have had a perfectly good goal chalked off, I can’t see why.
“Cobham are a tough side and we’ve had two really good matches against them this season.
“I thought we created the better of the chances and did most of the running.
“I thought we defended really well, too, and I felt we were deserving of the three points, I just can’t work out why our goal was disallowed.”
The incident referred to came just past the hour mark.
A cross swung in from the left saw defender Luke Campbell rise highest and slam a header, with the possible help of a Cobham defender, past Conrad Knight in for a well-deserved lead.
However, the joy was short lived as the linesman’s flag judged Campbell to have been in an offside decision, much to the dismay of many in attendance.
“We’ve looked back at the footage, there’s a big white line there to help officials, but they’ve still managed to get that one wrong, it’s extremely disappointing and frustrating.
“Set pieces are something we work really hard on in training and we felt it would be a key area for us to attack Cobham.
“It’s a goal straight from the training ground and to see it work so well and be chalked off, I honestly cannot understand the decision.
“We play these games against fellow play-off contenders and they’re always going to be tight. Sometimes they come down to these small moments so I’m not in the best of moods after this one.”
Aside from this incident, the Bulls found themselves with several chances in the match, including hitting the bar in the very first minute, but they were unable to make their opponents pay.
“We weren’t clinical enough in front of goal tonight,” the manager continued.
“We definitely created the better chances and you have to take them against these better teams.
“The boys all know we should have buried this one early and that’s why we’re frustrated and it feels more like two points dropped than one gained.
“Other teams around us have got big wins against difficult sides and we’re disappointed we couldn’t capitalise on our opportunities to keep our chase on.
“It’s an uphill battle now till the end of the season, we’re going to need 12 wins from here but we’re going to go at it full tilt, we have nothing to lose.”
There were positives to be taken from Saturday however, noticeably the return to a full 90 minutes for the exciting winger Miguel Carvalho, back in the starting line up after an ankle injury, and yet more minutes for talisman Lorne Bickley, who still sits on 98 Bulls goals.
Announced earlier this week, the Bulls are also welcoming in two brand new signings to their squad in ex-League Two striker Kurtis Guthrie and ex-Scottish Championship midfielder Paul McKay.
“Thankfully there’s no injury concerns from this game,” Powell concluded.
“We definitely lacked a cutting edge in front of goal tonight, so Kurtis can add that, as well as times where we didn’t use the ball well enough in midfield so Paul can help with that as well.
“More importantly, they give us good experience, good knowledge, I think that know how in big games is going to be important in us getting over the line this season.
“We need to find a way of winning these tough games and as much as we feel like we did that, it’s just a howler from the officials, it really is a stinker.”
“We will move ahead to Balham now next weekend and look to take some of today’s frustration out on them.”
Echoing Powell’s thoughts, assistant manager Adam Lester added: “We knew Cobham were going to be really tough, I think our first game against them was one of very few games this season where we felt a little bit out-coached.
“We’ve worked really hard in training to come up with a plan for all three points today and ultimately today was a game of missed opportunities in the final third.
“I thought we were the better team, we looked solid at the back and we didn’t look like we were going to concede which is a big positive.
“Yes we had the goal ruled out which is disappointing, we’ve looked back and we can see it wasn’t off side so that’s very frustrating.
“But ultimately, if we want to keep pushing for the title then we have to get better in the final third and really make the most of these last few games.
“It was exciting to see Migs [Carvalho] back, when he’s on the ball one on one with defenders, they’re scared of him and his energy and enthusiasm is a massive asset for us to have.
“It would have been nice to give him a few more of those opportunities to get in behind and run at players more today, but it’s great having him back.
“Having more and more players back for our final run in is only a positive, we have more competition for places and even more quality at our disposal, which we are going to need.”
Also adding his thoughts post-match was Bulls skipper James Queree, who said: “We said before the game it was going to be a tough contest.
“They have some tough players, they’re well organised and they certainly made us work hard for the point.
“Upon reflection, I think the referee and that offside call, they’re decisions outside of our control.
“We can be frustrated and feel hard done by, but it’s not really going to get us anywhere.
“What we can do is look at the opportunities we did create, on another day we could have scored three or four with the chances we had.
“We definitely created the better chances, I don’t think Euan [Van Der Vliet] had too much to do in goal for us, but at the end of the day it’ would have, could have, should have.
“We have to look at ourselves and make sure we take those opportunities moving forwards.
“I thought we were good defensively and our shape off the ball was solid, which is definitely a positive to take.
“these moments don’t necessarily define a season, but we know we cannot afford anymore slip ups like that.
“At the end of the day it was third against fourth, we’ve taken a point and we will re-group and come back firing next game against Balham.”
The Bulls will now look ahead to this Saturday, where they welcome struggling Balham to Springfield Stadium on Saturday, set for a 4pm kick off again.
