Linney

One of my first games this season refereeing for my Sunday side Hucknall Rangers, was a pre-season game against a newly formed side Linney Group from Mansfield. It was a good chance to see what the opposition would be like as Hucknall would be facing them twice at least in the forthcoming campaign in the league. Hucknall came out of the game having little to fear, winning 3-2 - albeit comfortably and it probably could have been more but for some wasteful finishing. Hucknall's side on that day consisted of very few first team players as they tend to only come out during the actual season so have an extended break whilst the friendlies are being played.

Linney group had began the season struggling. Their side is mainly made up of either ageing, overweight or injured players, who have an obvious love for the game but are well out of their depths at this level. They were getting stuffed left, right and centre, often by double figures and there was little to debate that Hucknall wouldn't do the same to them again today, especially after the very positive start Hucknall had made. That being said, no team should be taken lightly and this was the mistake the Hucknall manager made going into this game. It was as if this game was a given and 3 points were as good as won, whilst the goal difference would be severely boosted.

As it went, Linney had a better start at least than most could imagine. I played my part in infuriating the Hucknall lads at the start by not bringing back 2 or 3 early foul throws as I didn't want to spoil the continued flow of the game. A couple of them were borderline anyway so may not have been given by other refs whilst at least one was quite blatantly a foul throw, which was appealed against but as Hucknall won the ball from it I allowed play to continue.

Hucknall were playing poorly and this resulted in Linney taking a surprise 1-0 lead and shortly after were 2-0 up. The flag did go up at one point when the ball was played through for the second goal but it wasn't clear who was being given offside as one lad had made a run from his own half and the clearer offside player had stopped. I had to speak to the linesman before giving the goal, who hadn't dropped his flag but he pointed out it was the player who stopped who he was giving offside against and that the goal should stand. The Hucknall lads were enraged at this decision, albeit the right one, but also were directing a lot of their furore at me for not pulling them up sooner for the bad throws. I made sure I pulled them up the next time which I didn't have to wait long for. Hucknall then began to throw everything at their opponents to get back into the game but at the same time, appealed against anything and everything.

From a corner, Linney cleared the box but Hucknall centre back Lee Weir met the ball with a stinging half volley that was blocked just a few yards in front of him by a Linney defender and claims of handball were voiced. I had a clear view and knew it hadn't struck the hand but even if so, the player was too close to there the ball was struck from he'd've not been able to get hands out of the way had it hit him, unless they were in an unnatural position, ie, above shoulder height etc. I turned the appeal down much to the home sides disgust.

A second appeal was turned down a few minutes later when close friend of mine Chris Taylor had burst into the box and was running along the byline before attempting to play the ball back into the box for a teammate, but his last touch before the cross meant he was having to stretch to reach the ball and it was cleared before he could quite make it. This led to an air-shot which meant he fell sidewards, which made the majority of the Hucknall players and coaches claim for a penalty and look even more disgusted than the first time when I rejected their appeals. It was evident they were after whatever they could get and were desperate with losing to such a poor side but as well as having clearly seen no offense, it was the easiest decision I've had to make due to the fact there was no appeal from the player himself, who I've known for over 20 years and had there been even a 1% chance of a penalty, he would have been the first one I would've heard! I've rejected clear penalties against him before and been reminded of them for months after so I know had this one been a decision to be made he would have been the first to tell me.

Hucknall did get one back before half time and halfway through the second half, their relentless pressure eventually led to the equaliser. This gave them a lot of confidence and the run of the game did look as though there was only going to be one winner from here. However, Hucknall became over confident and started to lose shape with every player from the front to the back pushing forward in search of the next goal. With all the space in behind the Hucknall defence due to them pressing, Linney could afford to play on the counter and long ball later, led to their striker being put clean through. The big Hucknall keeper started to come out and I was myself surprised to see the striker hit it from about 25 yards out when he could've got a lot closer to goal. It wasn't a great strike, with very little behind it but it found it's way past the keeper to out Linney 3-2 up with about 15 minutes to go.

Everything now was being hit into the Linney box from every angle but little was being made of them and it looked like they were going to remain frustarted throughout. A corner in the final minute had been headed towards the line but scrambled clear, and of course, this was followed by appeals of a goal but it hadn't crossed the line. I was being berated from every angle now, even people I'd class as close friends were now on my back but I don't know what I was being expected to do, I couldn't simply give them a free goal because this was my team. A second corner followed as we entered injury time and this time it was headed over the line, only just as the keeper got across to scoop it out from the goal but this time the goal was awarded and almost from the kick off I blew for full time.

Their was disgust and disappointment throughout, both from Linney for not having held out for their first win, instead this was their first draw, but Hucknall were fuming they had dropped points against such mediocre opposition. I bore the brunt of their anger, with me clearly being made the scapegoat for the result. The management couldn't even look at me after the game, which was gutting as these were 2 lads I had been very close to for the past couple of years. I could feel my time being part of this club wearing thin, I even began doubting my own performance.

After the game I took a lot of time reflecting on it as I didn't want it to be something that held me back in the future. I didn't want it to stop me refereeing in the future as at this point I had started thinking of taking it as far as I could but the only mistakes I felt I made were not pulling back the foul throws at the start of the game. In the end, I didn't let it affect my mind and when I look back at this game I'll use it as evidence that in this game you certainly can't please anyone, not even those closest to you. I won't set out to do so in the future, not that I had in this and I'll never hold myself responsible for the result of any game. The players and the managers need to look a lot closer at themselves before wagging fingers my way again.