Truro City's Omar Bogle Faces Suspension After Indefensible Red Card

John Askey did not bother dressing it up. Omar Bogle’s red card, he said, was “indefensible”.

On a grim afternoon for Truro City, the new signing’s flash of temper almost cost them everything. Deep into stoppage time of a laboured 1-1 draw with Walton and Hersham, the 33-year-old striker, with more than 300 Football League games behind him, snapped. He kicked out at Kleyton Junior and the referee went straight to his pocket.

No debate. No appeal. Gone.

Seconds later, remarkably, the 10 men of Truro found an equaliser. The late goal salvaged a point but did nothing to soften Askey’s anger at a moment of needless indiscipline in what he called his side’s worst performance of the season so far.

“You can't defend that. It shouldn't happen,” the Truro manager told BBC Radio Cornwall, his frustration aimed squarely at a player brought in to steady the frontline, not inflame it. Bogle, on just his fourth appearance since arriving last month, had been trusted to bring nous and composure from a career that has taken in Wigan Athletic, Crewe Alexandra, Charlton Athletic, Cardiff City and Newport County.

Instead, he left his team short and his manager exasperated.

Askey accepted that tempers flare and games fray around the edges, especially when results and performances fall below standard. But he was clear about where the line sits.

“We understand that people get frustrated and when somebody's grabbing hold of you the only way to respond to things like that is by keep playing, get hold of the ball, put ball in the back of the net,” he said. “You can't retaliate, so really disappointing and obviously we'll have to deal with that.”

Truro did, briefly, respond in the way their manager demanded, finding that late leveller with Bogle already down the tunnel. The point, though, came wrapped in a problem. A suspension now looms for a forward signed to be central to Askey’s plans.

The equaliser may have rescued the result. It did nothing to rescue the verdict on Bogle’s moment of madness.