If the decision looked bad enough in real time, replays showed bat and glove firmly tucked behind the batsman's pad, and several inches away from the path of the ball.
Falkirk took the lead against the run of play when Finnigan laid the ball into the path of Irishman Healy, who fired past Langfield from 20 yards.
Sheridan won a header and, after Sandaza beat Jamie Hamill to the loose ball, the Spaniard played the ball into the path of his strike partner, who rounded goalkeeper MacDonald to score.
Thomas jinked into the box and Kingson could only palm the Albion winger's centre into the path of Morrison who nudged the ball home from close range.
Possession of the ball is determined by getting the "line of the ball, " or path as it travels on the field, on a player's right.
It was a more comfortable save for the goalkeeper when a Swanson through ball deflected into the path of Buaben, who was unable to put enough bend or power on the ball to find the inside of the far post from the edge of the box.
The left-back, under no pressure, passed the ball across his own goal and straight into the path of Hleb, who advanced into the area and slotted the ball home via the legs of Kingson.
However, in the third minute of stoppage time, Okocha drilled in a stunning shot from 30-yards which Taylor pushed away into the path of Nolan, who turned the ball into an empty net.
There was more than a hint of fortune about the Royals opening goal as Long's cross from the right struck makeshift Preston right-back Barry Nicholson and looped over the helpless Turner and into the path of Kebe, who bundled the ball home.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer flicked a long ball into the path of Giggs, who crossed from the left for Scholes to steer the ball home from eight yards.
Liam Lawrence slipped the ball into the path of his Stoke City team-mate and the unmarked Whelan curled the ball into the top corner from 20 yards.
Walker was caught napping near the half-way line and dispossessed by Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, who played the ball into the path of Osman.
The hosts moved ahead when Rooney intelligently ushered the ball into the path of Foran, who side-footed home from just inside the box.
Jermaine Pennant's cross found Crouch at the far post and he knocked the ball into the path of the onrushing Gerrard, who headed beyond Brill.
The hosts doubled their lead 20 minutes from time when Diego Perotti swung over a corner and Fabiano headied the ball into the path of compatriot Renato to score from close range.
Anelka was a largely peripheral figure but should have restored Chelsea's lead after the heavily involved Drogba cut the ball into the path of the French striker, who missed the target with his first-time effort from six yards.
The tactic finally paid off though, as Fabregas chipped over three Croatia defenders who stood and appealed in vain for offside as Iniesta ran clear and rolled the ball into the path of a grateful Navas who could not miss.
But the scoring was opened just before half time as McBride's long shot deflected off Grant Murray into the path of Steve Lovell, who slotted the ball beyond Rascle for his eighth goal of the season.
But the Tanzanians were a transformed side in the second half, coming out of a defensive shell and drawing level in the 57th minute, when a free kick was pushed into the path of Yusuf Macho, who rifled the ball into the net.
But Arsenal settled the nerves of the Emirates crowd when Walcott's cross diverted off the shin of Adebayor into the path of Fabregas, who bundled over as McShane desperately tried to prevent the ball from crossing the goal-line.
Ndlovu then claimed his second with Kasinauyo the provider, turning the ball back into the path of the Zimbabwean captain.
Blackburn could have taken the lead in the second minute when Andrews, who had recovered from a knee problem, headed the ball back into the path of Warnock.
Hearts should have taken the lead after 24 minutes when Elliott pulled the ball back into the path of the unmarked Taouil, who sliced wide from 12 yards, injuring himself in the process before being immediately replaced with Andrew Driver.
Palace should perhaps have taken the lead in the fourth minute when skipper Shaun Derry laid the ball invitingly into the path of an unmarked Calvin Andrew, but the striker's initial shot was parried by Lee Grant and his follow-up effort was blocked.
The Portugal international then tried his luck from the opposite side and this time the Bolton keeper could only parry the ball back into the path of Berbatov, who poked home to give United what could prove to be a vital three points.
The Australian's brilliantly inventive backheel was straight into the path of Pienaar, who slid and scooped the ball into the top corner.
The loose ball rolled into the path of Donovan, who made no mistake from six yards to send the American players and fans into raptures.
St Mirren went in front in the 38th minute when Miranda's cross was cushioned into the path of Dorman by Wyness and the midfielder swept the ball into the net.
Matt Taylor's free-kick rebounded off the bar and eventually fell at the feet of Danny Simpson, whose clearance bounced off a Bolton player and into the path of Lee in the box who calmly slipped the ball past Krul.
Danny Washbrook dropped his shoulder 60 yards out, passed neatly to the onrushing Graeme Horne who, exploiting the angles, took on the full-back before putting an inside ball into the path of Adam Dykes.
应用推荐