Football fans would be outraged if every time one team was preparing to kick a field goal the officials moved the goalposts further back, making it harder to score.
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Manning, seeing what was happening, thought for a moment that the Giants should decline the invitation to score, run another play to wind down the clock, and then kick a field goal.
The Dragons gradually gained territory and turned down a kick at goal before Munster, with a strong defensive scrum, were able to force a turnover and clear the danger.
England were awarded a penalty close in and Tonga were retreating in expectation of a kick at goal when Wilkinson suddenly fired a high ball out to the right and Sackey collected brilliantly and just touched down short of the dead ball line.
The visitors, the first Cypriot team to reach the last eight of the Champions League, had brief cause for celebration through a Gustavo Manduca goal just after the hour mark, but Ronaldo grabbed his second with a stunning free kick to re-open a two-goal advantage on the night.
Between them, Jones and James Hook have not missed a kick at goal yet in the tournament.
Worcester should have levelled soon after but fly-half Joey Carlisle missed with a kick at goal and Leicester took advantage.
"They were giving us the run-around, so much so that I risked being booed out of the ground by asking David to kick a penalty for goal before half-time - we were absolutely shattered!"
Castres emerged with a spring in their step after the interval, and their determination to win the game was illustrated when they spurned a kick at goal inside Saints' 22 to instead kick to touch.
He cut Sale's lead to seven points with another kick which went over off the post, but missed a third kick at goal right on half-time.
Having weathered the pressure, Munster mounted an assault of their own, but after also spurning a chance to kick for goal home prop John Yapp gathered a loose pass to help clear the danger.
Balotelli added a second with 12 minutes remaining, firing home a free-kick, before Parma pulled a goal back through Nicola Sansone.
That allowed France to relieve the pressure, but at the other end Parra missed a 47th-minute kick at goal after Wales fell offside at a scrum.
But the Saints striker knocked the ball too far in front and it went out harmlessly for a goal kick.
But it was Everton who went closest to a winner when Yakubu found himself free in the box, only to send his drive across goal and away for a goal kick.
After 15 minutes former Ipswich striker Alex Mathie should have done better after receiving a pass from fellow forward Jim Hamilton, but poor control saw the ball run out for a goal kick.
Chelsea needed to score twice to take the game into extra time and it appeared Hazard lost his patience with the youngster after the ball had gone out of play for a goal kick.
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Castleford marksman Orr could only land two of his three first-half shots at goal and gritty Wakefield hit back to draw level just before the break with a third successful kick at goal from McNamara.
St Mirren's Carey then had a second free-kick effort on target after a sliding challenge on him from Jason Thomson saw the Hearts man booked, but MacDonald again tipped the ball wide for a goal kick.
Chelsea were struggling to cope with Everton's high-tempo game and another mistake from Terry created a shooting chance for Saha, whose shot appeared to be deflected wide even though referee Alan Wiley awarded a goal kick.
The visitors enjoyed plenty of possession in the second half but did not even earn a single kick at goal, two missed drop-goal attempts from long range by Derrick Hougaard the only time they threatened to get on the scoreboard.
Their team will be leading late in the game and, the next time they get a goal kick, they'll tarry, dilly-dally and linger to their heart's content: they'll bounce the ball, place it on the ground as gingerly as you would a newborn, wave their arms and adjust their hair, gloves and shorts.
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Ribery then smashed home a stunning free-kick goal in the 64th minute and went some way to dispel rumors of a falling-out with Van Gaal by racing to celebrate with the Dutchman.
Preston were only able to occasionally threaten, though Gomes pulled off a brilliant athletic save to deny Wallace a goal with a curling free-kick.
Whittingham fired a free-kick high and wide, while Parry had a goal-bound shot blocked as Chasetown scrambled and harried in defence.
Boro defender Joe Bennett curled a free-kick just wide before Harewood was denied a second goal, his effort well saved by home goalkeeper Paul Smith.
Myler opened the scoring in the fifth minute when Kearnan Myall was sin-binned for punching, but he missed a relatively straightforward drop-goal opportunity and a penalty kick minutes later.
The visitors extended their unbeaten run to five games, despite falling behind to a stunning free-kick from Michael McIndoe and a Mark Smith own goal.
Minutes later Kevan George cleared a header by Olave off the goal line following a corner kick and a collision that left two Columbus players on the pitch.
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