Pressure Meant Game On

Water was brushed in large quantities off the pitch during the period of the delayed kick off as Horsham desperately tried to ensure that their biggest day went without the disaster of a postponement. And Roberto believes that the presence of the Sky TV cameras meant that the game went ahead, suggesting that if they weren’t there then a rescheduling may have happened.

Speaking in the Wales on Sunday, Roberto said If the game wasn’t on Sky Sports, it would have been called off.

“Calling the game off was considered but Sky were pushing it because they had to call off a live FA Cup game between Staines and Stockport the other week – they just wanted to get this game on.

“I’ve never been involved in a football game in such bad conditions. The concern of playing in such treacherous conditions is that it’s easier for players to pick up serious injuries. The conditions were dangerous.

“We had to make our three substitutions earlier than I’d like to get fresh legs on because when you get tired and rusty in those conditions, the risk of injury is much greater. Most importantly for us we got through the game with no serious injuries.

Roberto also believes that the TV cameras played a part in the awarding of the late penalty that earned the Ryman League side a replay, saying “If their penalty was not on live TV, in the 85th minute of an FA Cup tie and for a non-league team against a league team, then he’d never have given it – there was no contact.

“It’s pointless speaking to the ref afterwards but it is annoying when everyone is pushing for the upset, we were playing the worst role possible in the occasion. As we say in Spain ‘we were dancing with the ugliest person on the dance floor’.

“The penalty decision was a disgrace but all part of the occasion.

“The whole programme was about Horsham, we were in a no-win situation and we knew it. It is disappointing to be treated like that.

“But I was proud with our attitude in those circumstances. There were a lot of positives in our performance.

“We didn’t want another game but thankfully we’ve a big enough squad to cope.”