The match never promised much and as such cannot be viewed as a disappointment. In strong rain, Aber were never going to challenge Ebbw's two goal advantage and the low crowd meant that there was never any danger of a surprise being sprung. The night's incidents came from sources other than the football.
First of all, Ebbw Vale are now managerless, chairmenless and their players have not been paid for a month. They had to drive up to the match today. But that's where the sob story ends for they played the ref for a mug today and, like a fool, he fell for it hook, line and sinker. Mr Morris as a schoolchild must have had "Kick Me!" stuck to the back of his blazer for he looked for all the world like a bemused weed unable to comprehend the power of the referee and determined to misuse it.
Ebbw Vale are a team who can sense blood like that and they escaped with only three cautions. Despite abusing two passers-by in front of the ref, the man himself took no action against their language (which could be heard all round the empty Park Avenue) or their abuse of the crowd (and not just Andy for once). All this would not have filled the senses with bile if it was not for the totally unjust sending off of Andy Evans.
He got booked for a strong tackle in the first half. Going for the ball, he slid and took the man with him and hard. A yellow card was perhaps deserved but the Ebbw players made damn sure the ref knew that and, as night follows day, Andy's number was taken. Then, late on, with the ground even more slippy, two players, Andy Evans and a Vale defender went for the ball. According to sources better placed than I, there was no contact. Andy stood up and walked away, only to be called back whilst the Ebbw Vale players howled at the ref to send off this disgusting player. The wretch duly obliged and succeeded where thousands before him have failed; the old men of the Shed could find nothing to say.
After that it was left only for the match to end as Ebbw continued to bludgeon their way to victory in the tie. There was a punch up in the tunnel as the Ebbw players walked down it to their own mock cheers, having no fans they must make their own noise. Tomsky says he felt physically disgusted watching the match, and I must say that I agree. This was a game that shamed Welsh football and I thank God that there was hardly anyone there to see it.
