The ‘Ghost Goal’ game where Stuart Attwell awarded a goal to Reading on the strength of his Assistant Referee Nigel Bannister telling him he thought he’d seen the ball cross the goalline despite being the only one in the whole ground to think so. It was awarded as a John Eustace own goal.
report: Let’s get the obvious out of the way first. What a completely mental decision.
Phantom goal will haunt rookie referee
Tilehurst End: Random Royal Moments: That Ghost Goal At Vicarage Road
This was the first game played after Watford’s Sierra Leonean midfielder Al Bangura had his application for leave of stay in the UK turned down. He was initially cleared to stay in early 2007 but the Home Office appealed the decision on a legal technicality and won meaning Bangura would have to return to his homeland which he’d fled when he was just 15.
The club organised a protest against the decision at half time during the game against Plymouth. Al himself addressed the crowd alongside the then Watford chairman Graham Simpson, and Watford MP Claire Ward. Four days later the Home Office announced Bangura would be allowed to stay whilst he appealed against the decision and applied for a work permit.
On 14th January 2008 he was awarded the work permit and allowed to remain in the UK.
Bangura loses deportation hearing
Watford player to be deported, asylum tribunal rules
Norris strikes and Argyle add to Boothroyd’s blues
Matt Rowson’s thoughts on the home office decision not to allow Al Bangura leave of stay in the UK.
5 thunks from the Plymouth game.
Watford twice threw away the lead against Blackpool on Saturday as they were held to a 2-2 draw.
I left Vicarage Road both disappointed and satisfied all at the same time. It’s one of those weird feelings you can have as a football fan. Let’s get the disappointment out the way first. It came from the final score line – Watford 2-2 Blackpool. With Watford going a head twice in the game we gifted Blackpool their goals.
BSAD report: Around half an hour into the first period, Miles commented that it was “okay so far”. From someone who’s quick enough with a strong opinion, this was a statement so spectacularly radical that it required a serious double-take. Such generosity can only be explained by the festive spirit, or having spent most of the time playing computer games instead of watching properly. Because the first half, while considerably more competent than its counterpart seven days ago, offered the most dour, relentlessly unrewarding football seen at Vicarage Road since the last time that I wrote a sentence like this. It was “okay” only in the sense that nobody died.
