Rudd off as Reds suffer second defeat

Stuart Rudd was controversially sent off and Rory Patterson limped out of the action with a possible broken foot as FC United suffered their second straight defeat of the season, 1-0 at home to Garforth Town.

The Reds hit the bar, had a goal disallowed for offside in the dying seconds and had the lion’s share of possession throughout the match, but if truth be told they failed to create enough clear-cut chances in front of goal and were hit on the break with less than 20 minutes to go by Jason St Juste.

The referee’s performance proved to be a major talking point for many of the 2,216 supporters in attendance and the hosts hopes of grabbing an equaliser were dealt a massive blow when Rudd, playing his first game since breaking a wrist, was given his marching orders for apparent violent conduct.

As United pressed forward their big number nine put in a seemingly strong but fair challenge on a Garforth defender near the dead ball line and appeared to be kicked several times as both players lay on the floor. As Rudd got back to his feet he grappled with the defender and no fewer than four visiting players felt it necessary to run over to the incident.

After the melee was brought under control, the referee held a lengthy consultation with his two assistants and decided to send both the players who were involved in the original incident off the pitch with no action being taken against anyone involved in the aftermath.

Disappointingly, the West Yorkshire outfit, who were decked out in the yellow, blue and white of Brazil, failed to live up to their Samba football reputation and once in front seemed keen to resort to time wasting tactics rather than showing what they could do.

Unperturbed, United continued to commit men forward and substitutes Chris Baguley and Simon Carden looked lively as the Reds continued to search for the equaliser. Baguley curled a 25 yard free-kick just wide after Jerome Wright had been hacked down and Rob Nugent had a header tipped onto the bar before Carden’s flick-on was ruled out in the last minute.

Manager Karl Marginson was left bitterly disappointed after the match but will be sure to pick up his players in order to gain their first points of the season against Bridlington and Rosendale this Bank Holiday weekend.