Treble under the Spire

The Mansfield Youth League season got underway on Saturday 10th September in the sun and I was down for a trio of games in the morning in Chesterfield. Thankfully they included 2 mini soccer games as I was following these matches up with a senior match at Retford in the afternoon, so wanted to have at least some legs left for this!

The games were (scores in brackets):

U10 - Chesterfield Town Whites v Glapwell Gladiators (8-0)
U10 - Chesterfield Town Juniors v Manor FC Red (7-0)
U11 - Chesterfield Town Whites v Teversal FC (3-4)

The games were far from difficult, as you would hope at this level and I enjoyed all 3. No complaints from all 6 managers and despite plenty of goalmouth action, not a great deal of anything of note that will make these games particularly memorable in years to come.

First Middle - Hat trick for the keeper!!

Almost another fortnight had passed before being handed my first game as referee, which was an NAA Division 3 game between Vernon Villa Academy and Gedling Southbank Colts.

I was more than prepared for this game and got there much earlier than I had anticipated. I had to wait almost 45 minutes before both teams appeared from the dugouts and I got the game started.

Both teams were very young and at first I thought this was an actual academy game but it just appears both sides consisted mainly of lads just out of youth football. Gedling started with a bang and were 2-0 up after about 3 minutes and were threatening to run riot. Vernon tightened the ship though and began to play some flowing football of their own.

It was a good game to start the season really, I had very little to do. I wanted to start the season as I wished to continue it, by being more active than in previous games, keeping up with play better, focussing on my position, and being confident with my decisions.

Vernon got themselves back in the game with a couple of goals before half time and came out storming in the second half, putting Gedling on the back foot from the off. I had a couple of penalty appeals early in the second half, one of which I gave and the goalkeeper ran down the pitch to take it, duely slotting it into the bottom corner.

Ten minutes later and another clear penalty allowed the keeper to run down for his second of the game before in the dying moments, one skilful midfielder had outfoxed the majority of the Gedling defence before racing clear towards the keeper. One defender caught up and in his attempt to block the shot, totally wiped out the player giving me no alternative but to issue a straight red card and yet another penalty. This allowed the keeper to race down and dispatch his third goal from the spot for a rare hat trick by a goalkeeper!

The game ended 8-2 and there were no complaints at me after the game, which was a great way to start the season, especially as I had some decisions to make on the pitch, and I felt I'd got them mostly correct.