Storm Barney claims its first casualty as Thurrock FC concede freak wind-assisted goal
Thurrock and Romford’s match in the Isthmian League went ahead despite heavy winds as Storm Barney hit wreaked havoc over Non-League football
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Your support makes all the difference.Storm Barney has wreaked havoc across the United Kingdom this week with 70mph winds leaving thousands across the country without power, and it appears that nobody is safe after the extreme conditions claimed its first victim.
Fortunately, the victim was the Thurrock FC goal-mouth as high winds had a significant impact on the Isthmian League clash with Romford on Tuesday night. As non-league fixtures up and down the country were cancelled or abandoned mid-match, the brave souls in Romford battled through the conditions to play out a 1-1 draw.
But the game will be remembered for one of the most bizarre goals ever seen, with the assist going straight to Barney itself.
With Thurrock playing into the wind, goalkeeper Rhys Madden got a sign of things to come as he took a goal kick, only to see the ball fly straight back at him as it got caught in the wind and force him into a save to concede a corner.
But the next time the ball went airborne, Madden wasn’t as lucky. His team-mate, Kamarl Duncan, won the ball and tried to clear it up-field, but as Barney had its say the ball swung back in mid-air and hurtled towards Madden, who could only palm the ball into the net and give away an own goal.
Thurrock, who ground share Ship Lane with Romford, were able to get back into the game with the wind at their backs in the second-half, but head coach Mark Stimson was left furious with the decision to play the match in such awful weather conditions.
At times it was a joke and Romford's goal was something you can only describe after seeing
“Both sets of players deserve a lot of credit for trying to play in what I thought were conditions that should not have seen the game go ahead,” Stimson said on the club’s official website.
“At times it was a joke and Romford's goal was something you can only describe after seeing. It was laughable but one our players weren't happy about. It was all about who could do the most with the wind !!
“We couldn't get the winner we tried for so the game ended 1-1 and hopefully if conditions are ever like that again the people in charge will ask the managers/ players for their views whether game should go ahead or not.”
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