Biggest game to date

As the end of the season draws ever closer, the games are starting to get bigger and more important, for most sides anyway. I've already learned that I shall be officiating in 3 cup finals near the end of the season, which is great news - more info on that to follow.

Today, I faced my biggest game to date. An U15 Cup semi-final between Robin Hood Colts and Arnold Town Maroon. I should have had 2 assistants in this game but when I made it to the ground I heard that one had already called in sick so arrangements were made for a representative from each side to take a half each. There were only 5 minutes remaining before kick off when the other assistant arrived, otherwise I was on my own.

Before the game got underway, I was asked to lead the sides out of the changing rooms and onto the pitch and for them to then do the respect handshakes. I had heard earlier in the season that the handshakes should be taking place on a weekly basis anyway but I'd not seen it put into place all year, my bad?

Following this the game got under way and it was Robin Hood that started the brighter. This was a team I was familiar with as it was the third time this season I had taken charge of one of their games. Arnold though were apparently the favourites and began to take control of the game, going ahead in one of their first attacks on the quarter of an hour mark. Robin Hood though to their credit didn't let their heads go down and equalised merely 2 minutes later.

It was a very well contested first half and at the break the score remained 1-1. I was pleased at just how well the half had ran, with no incident of note to mention, especially as in previous games with the home side, there have been plenty of moaning and appeals from both those on the pitch and those off it, but today everyone seemed fully focused on the game.

I was advised at half time by one of the home representatives to just keep an eye out for Arnold playing a little rougher as they were known for it apparently but there'd been no sign of this in the first half. The away side started the second half brighter and midway through the half took the lead with a well worked goal down the right side. When the players had returned to their own half, I was alerted to a man down in the box. It was a home defender who appeared to have taken a blow to the knee and was in some pain, and I had my ear chewed off by a Robin Hood coach who said that I had missed something. The thing was, all the play had come down the right side, there was nothing or at least very little happening on the left or even in the centre so how this p[layer had took a knock on the far left side of the 6 yard box was beyond me.

Moments later and a free kick was floated into the box by Arnold and at first the keeper looked like he was comfortable but he spilled it, much to the delight of the unrushing Arnold forwards who had the simplest of tasks of putting the rebound past him. Once again, following the return of the Arnold players to their own half and the keeper had stayed down and was upset. Again the same Robin Hood official barracked me for missing a 'clear' kick as the ball was put in but this time I made a point of saying that I was just yards from the play and there was no contact from the moment the ball was hit into the box to after it had gone in. The keeper had simply spilled it and couldn't recover. Even after the goal he was fine just disappointed that the goal came from his error, so it just looked like dirty tactics to me.

The remainder of the game went by pretty quickly and certainly without further incident and at the full time whistle, the Arnold players celebrated their progression to the final. I was then apprached by someone from the Notts FA and thought I had been observed at first until he simply informed me he was acting on behalf of a Charter Standard awarders and asked for my opinion on how each side had conducted themselves today. I said both had been great and there were no issues or concerns to which he thanked me and we both made our way from the ground.

I had to move pretty sharpish as I had 45 minutes to get to Notts for a game I was doing as a favour. I should have been taking another semi final in Ollerton for their U17's side but had only been contacted on the eve of the game and a clash in kick off times meant I could only do the first. I then sped to the venue of the Goose Fair for a Midlands Amatuer Alliance game between Cambridge Knights (of Nottingham!) and Selston.

This game was played in very high spirits and on a great day in the sun. It was clear from the off that Cambridge weren;t the greatest side in the world, with an ageing back line and, for want of a better word, a chunky lone striker! Selston were full of fairly talented young adults and they controlled the game from start to finish.

However, chances on the day were few and far between and surprisingly the game ended just 1-0 to Selston, with the goal coming in the closing minutes of the first half. How the scores were level for so long was beyond me but the Knights had battled hard and defended quite well but offered little going forward.

I had almost no decisions to make throughout the game and simply strolled around the pitch at my leisure. In fact the quickest I moved was the second I blew for full time as I made it to my car in record time to move it from the clutches of a traffic warden, who had been sniffing around it about half an hour earlier! I was in a rush finding the pitch and had just parked at the side of a main road, but other cars were there too, it there were no markings and I saw no signs. Still, luckily I got there in time!

Headstocks Victory

For the third time in 4 weeks I officiated in another Headstocks win where goals were at the plenty. It took some doing at first though as Arnold Victory were a well organised side who created plenty of chances of their own. Headstocks had missed a couple of their own before taking the lead half way through the opening half.

They were 2 up soon after before Arnold pulled one back. 3-1 was the half time score. In the second half Headstocks ran riot with 3 further goals to finish 6-1 up and although they deserved the win overall, 6-1 was probably a bit harsh on Arnold who had worked hard.

I had to caution a Headstocks player for a late tackle that the Arnold captain certainly felt on the ankle, and there was a late scuffle in one corner that I had to deal with but decided not to caution anyone as it was handbags really.

2 at Underwood

I was down for 3 games at Underwood but the times meant that I had to give one up as I can't split myself in half! The one I ended up not doing was only as assistant in an Under 9's cup semi final, which is still played at 7 aside with no offside so it's not as though 2 assistants were crucial!

The first match was an U14's league game between Underwood and Robin Hood Colts. It was a great game to officiate, with not too much to do. It was quite end to end stuff with chances at both ends. There was an early caution for a Robin Hood forward who was putting his weight about early on, firstly with a slightly late slide on the goalkeeper which I let go with a warning, and then another on a defender which brought out the yellow.

Underwood were playing well and deservingly led at half time through a penalty given when a well struck shot was sent wide of the target by the arm of a defender. The Robin Hood manager had a word with me at half time, claiming to have heard taunts from the touchline aimed at winding his cautioned striker up. I'd not heard these but had a word with the Underwood manager as a precaution.

The second half brought not much change with Underwood playing some slick football and Robin Hood left to rely on long balls for their striker to deal with. Underwood went 2-0 up with 20 minutes to play and a late rally from Robin Hood left for a tense finish when a cross-come-shot by the Robin Hood target man looped over the keeper for 2-1. Villa held on though for the 3 points.

Slight confusion followed this game when another official turned up and was under the impression he was taking the next game on this pitch but I knew I was doing back to back games. It was resolved though when the Underwood U13's manager asked for me as it was I that he had spoken to earlier in the week and it turned out that the other official was the second assistant for the U9's game I couldn't do.

The next game was the U13's league tie between Underwood and Blackwell. I had last seen Blackwell when they were well beaten in a cup game at Forest Town but this was a more fairer battle, and one that they prevailed in.

Another tough battle with first Underwood starting strong and then Blackwell controlling for periods before my second penalty award of the day came as Underwood's forward was brought down clinically in the box and amid claims it was outside the box, I had absolutely no doubts it was inside, and really I should be thanked for being lenient as not to have shown a card when another referee would.

The oenalty was saved though and the rebound was gathered also by the keeper and this led to a huge lift in Blackwell's game. It was still 0-0 at half time but by this time Blackwell were having more than their fare share of posession which continued into the second half.

Underwood were now having to play on the break but were still creating chances. As the game got later, it looked like a 0-0 was well on the cards but at the death from a corner, which sailed straight into the goal. Blackwell celebrated as if it was a league winner, though for all I know it could well have been!

Moments later I blew for full time and both managers thanked me for a good game. I am pleased that my own good form continues but it hels when the games are played as fairly as they have been as of late.