First of all I would like to say that if you were not there you are in no position to question whether the game should have been played, yes there was a covering of snow but it was quite safe to play so no blame there for our defeat.
I normally agree with Oxo's views, but I'm prepared to offer a slightly different opinion in terms of whether or not the pitch was playable. I was there, and personally I don't think the game should have gone ahead. Players were slipping over at regular intervals, and I can remember Scott Garner ending up on his backside from a good shooting position in the second half and also the Harrogate keeper ending up laying on the ground after taking a goal kick. Those are just two examples and there were several other occasions for both sides when players failed to keep on their feet. Conditions were the same for both sides so we can't blame the conditions in any way for the defeat, but the conditions did turn the match into a bit of a lottery. If Harrogate Railway, Guiseley, Halifax, etc., were all postponed due to the state of the pitch, then surely conditions can't have been that different at Harrogate Town?
the new lad from Sunderland standing in for Pidge (who believe me was very unwell) falling way short of the standard required at this level I don't want that to sound over critical as the conditions must have been a long way from those he has experienced before and it was his first outing with new team mates.
Let's not be too critical of the new signing. As I understand it he would have joined up with us on loan much sooner but for the fact that he's been injured. It wasn't the best of debuts, but his fitness as well as the playing conditions were mitigating factors. With Rene Steer suspended and then Piergianni falling ill, we were left with half of our defence missing. With the question mark over McNamee's fitness I think Conor Marshall may well have filled in ahead of him (if he hadn't been sent out on loan), and I'm still not convinced about the timing of the Marshall loan deal coinciding with Steer's suspension.
As for the disallowed goal just before half time, It was a goal without doubt and reason I can say that is that the chap who attends every game and takes photos from the terraces took a beauty of the ball clearly over the line which most of us were able to look at however, I was stood 10 yards away and could't see it for the keepers body which also blocked the linesman , I would say it was equally impossible for the ref to be sure as by the time he reached the goal line the ball was back in play, one of those things I'm afraid.
I didn't see any photos, but from one viewing of the incident I couldn't be sure that the whole of the ball had crossed the whole of the line (and I was close to the incident), so I'm not going to criticise the ref for not awarding the goal. What I will say though is that the ref had to make a judgement based on a white ball on a white pitch at the foot of a white post, and had to decide whether or not that white ball had crossed a white line. It was very hard to follow the ball at times, and if the game was to go ahead then the decision not to use an orange or yellow ball has to be questioned. Maybe everyone would have been able to see the incident more clearly if the correct coloured ball had been used?
