Wakering's Tommy Dalgarno turned from hero to villain in the space of five minutes on Saturday as his side continued their improved form in Ryman First Division North.

Dalgarno -- whose career has been dogged by disciplinary problems -- has only recently returned to action after a 35-day ban imposed by the Essex FA after being sent off in a reserve match.

Here, after scoring what proved to be the winning goal after 75 minutes, he was banished ten minutes from time after collecting his second caution of the afternoon.

However, on this occasion, there was much sympathy for the whole-hearted Rovers' man. There was no argument over his original yellow card, shown for dissent.

But the second seemed unnecessary as the Wakering man seemed just as much sinned against as sinning when he tangled with an opponent, who went unpunished, in a challenge for the ball.

In a typical "handbags" incident no punches were thrown and many felt that the pushing and shoving could have been dealt with by a lecture from the match official.

While so many games were off due to frostbound pitches, fans found the Burroughs Park surface in immaculate condition and Dan Trenkel went close for the village side after three minutes.

It was Trenkel who fired his side into the lead on 20 minutes, shooting home from Mark Hampshire's superb through ball.

Paul Donnelly cleared another Wakering effort off the line after 40 minutes, but Barton got on terms on the stroke of half-time through Stuart Lockhead.

The winner came with 15 minutes remaining when Dan Ringer crossed from the right and Hampshire's pull back saw Dalgarno shoot home from close range.

Published Monday, January 13, 2003

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