January 2015: Todd Jordan (15) Chester, 0-4
Hamza Bencherif’s illness handed Todd Jordan a place in defence, but his evening was over after just 15 minutes. Jordan upended Oliver McBurnie a yard outside the penalty area, with Simon Bennett judging that he had denied a goalscoring opportunity and producing a straight red. Arnaud Mendy moved back alongside Nat Brown as City tried to reorganise.
Chester were already two goals ahead through a Sean Newton own goal and Sean McConville’s finish, with Ryan Higgins adding a third before half-time. There was also a second City dismissal after 61 minutes, when Alan Power received a straight red for a sliding challenge on Craig Mahon following consultation between Bennett and his assistant. That left us with nine men for the final half-hour, and Brad Abbott’s long-range strike soon completed the scoring in a miserable 4-0 defeat.
December 2015: Luke Waterfall (29) Grimsby Town, 0-2
Greg Tempest was covering and Padraig Amond was moving away from goal, but neither spared Luke Waterfall a red card at Blundell Park. Waterfall dragged the striker down in the 29th minute, with Adrian Holmes judging that he had denied a goalscoring opportunity. The decision looked particularly harsh when Craig Disley subsequently received only a yellow for a high challenge on Terry Hawkridge.
Paul Farman’s saves helped keep City in contention after Amond had headed Grimsby ahead from Omar Bogle’s cross in the 21st minute. The ten men continued to threaten, with Matt Rhead and Jack Muldoon both having opportunities as we searched for an equaliser. However, Nathan Arnold settled the televised derby in the 79th minute, finishing from Amond’s pass to seal a 2-0 home win.
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