Brakes furious with referee who wanted to get home to wife

In November 1973 AP Leamington ‘were still fuming about a last minute penalty decision which gave Darlaston victory in their FA Challenge Trophy clash – but a protest to the FA has been rejected.  Brakes’ defenders claimed that Darlaston right winger Alec Jackson “took a dive” following a Jon Brady tackle outside the area.  And at the weekend angry AP officials alleged that referee K.V. Kelsall had awarded the penalty in order to avoid extra time.  But when the club lodged a complaint against the official, they received a curt reply from the Football Association.  The FA pointed out that Kelsall was on the Football League list until his retirement age last year.  And they said that referees should be judged on their overall performance, not a single incident. 

But Brakes are still convinced that the “single incident” was “a travesty of justice”.  Said manager Jimmy Knox: “The linesman was only 15-yards from the incident and he never flagged, yet the referee was 40 yards away.  He went to the linesman and remarked to two of our players on the way: “It Is going to be a penalty. I don’t want extra time.”  One Windmill official added that Mr Kelsall (from Stafford) had said before the match that he did not want extra time as he was anxious to get home to his wife who was ill.’

At the Windmill Ground ‘Bedworth snatched the lead for a minute, but then AP asserted themselves.  Early in the action, Garnell in the Bedworth goal have to save an awkward shot from Sweenie (back after a long spell out with a cartilage injury, hehad been an unused substitute midweek).  Bedworth survived the opening pressure and for a lengthy spell play was confined to midfield.   Bedworth forced two successive corners, neither of which produced a result and when Leamington broke away on the left. Garnell again saved a dangerous low shot.   It was against the run of play when Karancinski gave Bedworth the lead in the 18^th minute but a minute later Leamington were level when Lee scored with a fine shot after Brady had split the United defence.

  In the 25^th minute Leamington went ahead following a penalty awarded against Harkus for hands.  Brady’s spot kick hit the bar and when the ball rebounded into play Goodfellow raced in to head it smartly into the net.   Leamington continued to dominate the exchanges and Lee scored a third goal after 40 minutes when he raced into head Goodfellow’s corner kick well wide of the goalkeeper. ‘   Brakes ended up hammering Bedworth 5-1.

Meanwhile, the fate of Leamington Town Hall hung in the balance.   ‘A plan to save Leamington Town Hall from demolition was described as “nothing more than a suggestion” by Councillor Tom Nicholson, last year’s Mayor.   The future of the building hangs in the balance.  Plans to pull it down and sell the site for shops to pay for new civic buildings in Newbold Terrace have run into fierce opposition from both the Leamington Society and the Save Leamington Action Movement (SLAM). Councillor Nicholson said the obvious alternative to demolition was to retain the building and build new office accommodation on the council-owned land behind it.’