"DULL day, must have been a dull draw. Why do you keep going, John?"

That was a question posed to me on Sunday morning after Forest Green Rovers drew 1-1 at Crawley.

The weather may have been dull but the game certainly was not. It was a pulsating game of football, full of skill, exciting moments and not without controversy.

In the first half, Forest Green were outstanding, playing some delicious football and cutting Crawley apart.

There were no Premier League games so the Brighton Argus sent their football correspondent 20 miles north to Crawley. He was gobsmacked!

"You are playing outstanding football, especially in midfield," he said. "Had it not been for the woodwork and a couple of incorrect decisions you would have been five goals in front."

I could not have put it better myself at half-time.

The composure and confidence of the emerging Rovers side was a joy to see, but at that stage we were goalless.

The second half was different. Crawley changed their team, system and approach. Determined not to be humiliated in front of their own fans, they attacked with spirit and strength.

Rovers dug deep, kept playing football and took the lead with a well-worked goal.

Crawley equalised following a string of corners and a thrilling final 10 minutes saw both sides striving for the winner.

It is matches like this which make football such a first-class spectacle and earn it the title 'the beautiful game.'

The players of both sides contributed but a special mention must be given to FGR goalkeeper Bradley Collins. He was my man of the match, dominating his area and making some very good saves.

No longer is he the jittery novice of early season. Instead he is deservedly first choice. Well done, Bradley, you have grown up quickly.

Suspended Dale Bennett was missed in defence. Positional changes were made to cover his absence and collectively the back five (three central defenders and two wing backs) were not as watertight as in previous weeks.

Manny Monthe can do exciting things, but he can also look like an accident waiting to happen, and on Saturday several did.

His substitution in the second half was not a surprise.

Now to the controversy because there was one incident of critical importance.

Christian Doidge was through on goal and was denied by a deliberate handball from the goalkeeper outside the area.

All around me thought this merited a straight red card but only a yellow was produced.

This could have been a game-changing decision.

Both managers received warnings during the game but the referee who administered them was in my view clearly responsible for their frustration, as he unsettled both sides.

A surprisingly mellow Mark Cooper was cautious in his post-match interview but quite correct in praising the travelling FGR fans who made up 10 percent of the crowd.

Good for him and good for Crawley in producing such tasty beef sandwiches.

Needless to say, the tea was well below the standard provided at the Corinium Stadium.

A dull day, perhaps, but a wonderful footballing day out.

With an Ashes series looming some eyes are very much on cricket Down Under. Mine are and I am both angry and puzzled.

There is in Gloucestershire a proud and effective cricketer called Liam Norwell. He is a fast, medium bowler who last season took 59 wickets at 18 runs each.

He is at the height of his powers and in my view would be an admirable replacement for our England bowlers who have sustained injuries.

Instead, Tom Curran of Surrey (34 wickets last season) and George Garton of Sussex, who has taken just 20 first class wickets in his whole life, have been chosen ahead of Norwell.

Liam has been let down and our county has been ignored.

The worst scenario is Liam leaving us for a more fashionable county in order to get the recognition he deserves.

Another ECB crisis is looming. There are two cricket boards in this county – the one which runs the professional game, of which I was chairman, and the other runs the recreational game. Steve Silk is the chief executive. They are due to merge in October, 2018.

This has to be commended but the way this is being done horrifies me and other observers of the game.

There are good people on both boards and very good people on neither who could make a worthwhile contribution to take the game forward.

GCCC members will not have a chance to discuss this until the AGM in April. Ridiculous!

It should be top of the agenda now.

Get to it, gentlemen, and let's have some ladies on the board too while we are at it.

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