Carlisle City boss Dan Kirkup was sent off from his technical area during his side’s 3-2 defeat at home to Whitley Bay in the Northern League.
The young referee in charge decided to augment a new rule regarding delaying a game restarting after Kirkup was alleged to have kept hold of the ball ahead of a throw-in.
It proved a pivotal moment as Kirkup was intending bringing himself on in the closing stages to combat Whitley Bay’s aerial threat.
City had actually played well for much of the game and midway through the second half were still leading. But they switched off twice at corners, conceding headed goals – the second one winning the game eight minutes from the end.
They had also started the game slowly and, not for the first time this season, gave away a goal after just nine minutes when Mechack Kanda scored for the visitors.
But Jordan Irving was a livewire all afternoon for City and he grabbed the equaliser on 15 minutes with the sides level at the break.
But before Irving added a second on 56 minutes City had missed a number of good chances and Kirkup had been shown red in the 51st minute.
Whitley Bay drew level on 67 minutes through Jacob Forster and won the game in the 82nd minute through George Brady’s header.
City get a break from League football next Saturday when they enter the FA Vase competition for the first time with a trip to Guisborough.
Their late involvement is due to their progress last season and Kirkup will be hoping they can achieve a similar good run this time.
To hear what Dan thought about the game – and his red card – you can listen to him below:
