Salomon ‘upset’ as Golden Girls are hit by late controversy

At 2-1 up with 10 minutes to play, it appeared that Watford Ladies would secure a much needed victory on Sunday against Oxford United – instead, a couple of key decisions meant that the Golden Girls fell to a harsh defeat.
Match action from Watford Ladies' controversial defeat to Oxford United. Picture (c) AW Images (AWimages.co.uk)Match action from Watford Ladies' controversial defeat to Oxford United. Picture (c) AW Images (AWimages.co.uk)
Match action from Watford Ladies' controversial defeat to Oxford United. Picture (c) AW Images (AWimages.co.uk)

Manager John Salomon was understandably aggrieved afterwards, saying: “It’s not frustrating, it’s more to the point now where it’s getting upsetting. We’ve done everything we can today.

“The players really wanted it. We got the score back to 2-1 in our favour and at that point felt comfortable that we could go on and win the game, maybe even grab a third goal and get that victory that we’ve so wanted and needed recently.

“It’s tough to pick the side up from that because they deserved so much more and, unfortunately, it’s been taken away from them.

“We’re disappointed, frustrated, upset – however you want to describe it. It’s hard to put it into words at the minute because we’re kind of speechless at some of the things that have gone against us today.”

Earlier on in the game, both sides will probably feel that they should have had a penalty. However it was the decisions to allow Oxford’s second and third goals that had a massive influence on the result.

“For the equaliser, there was no protection for the goalkeeper and in our opinion was a foul,” Salomon adds. “Immediately after, they’ve broken away and scored again but instead of one player challenging the keeper, they’ve got a number of players doing it and lumping themselves in.

“As a consequence, we’ve had to take a player off, who was injured in the incident because she’s been clamped. The ball has then just trickled into an empty net.

“We’ve got players upset after the game because they’re so close to that victory. When you’ve got the opposition coaches coming up to you and saying ‘how either of those goals stood is unbeknownst to us’, I think says it all really. It’s a difficult one to take.”

Unfortunately the performances on the pitch took a bit of a back seat in the post-match analysis. It shouldn’t be forgotten that Kim Farrow got her first competitive goal for the club.

“I’m really pleased for Kim,” says Salomon. “She works so hard and that’ll mean an awful lot to her.

“Now, she probably won’t think about it as much. I’m sure when looking back on it, she’ll see it was a lovely finish as well.”

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