Daylight robbery

I had the pleasure of officiating one of the most one-sided games today where the winners ended up being the side outplayed for over 90 minutes! Shirebrook Rovers had been narrowly beaten to the title the previous week and were playing their final match of the season against Mason's Arms.

Rovers dominated the match, to the point where throughout both halves a rarely had to cross the half way line. Masons were barely in the game and couldn't get the ball forward on the few occasions they had possession. It wasn't even like they defended particularly well, in the first half alone, both Rovers strikers were sent 1 on 1 with the keeper 5 or 6 times but wasted great opportunities.

I denied a penalty after about 35 minutes as the keeper went around the side of a Shirebrook player in possession, getting a full foot to the ball and knocking it out for a throw in but the player took a big hit off the keeper and in hindside probably should have been given the penalty.

There were 3 further shouts in the second half though all 3 were easy to wave away and it looked as though the game would end 0-0. However, in the 92nd minute, a trip about 25 yards outside the Rovers box saw a free kick hit over the wall and towards the keeper who looked comfortable on it but the ball spun out of his hands and over his head, into the goal for a very surprising Masons win.

I enjoyed the game, in the heat on a Sunday Spring morning but again there was a lot I could have done better today. First of all the pitch inspection wasn't really done, I had a gentle jog around the edge before kick off and my attention was gained when Masons Arms were warming up to 2 deep divots in the ground on the edge of the 18 yard box. I got these filled in but then 3 minutes into the game I had to stop plkay as there were a further 2 or 3 within the area that were very dangerous and needed filling in.

I could have been in a better position for the first penalty shout as I was about 20 yards away on the edge of the 18 yard box and the offence took place right on the goal line. I was already looking through a few players and this didnt help when the challenge was made. I saw the tackle and saw that the keeper had made a full clean connection on the ball but wasn't in the best of position to see if this had been done fairly.

I was quite quiet today but didn't really need to be particularly vocal.There were next to no bad challenges barr the possible one just mentioned, I didn't have to even speak to any player never mind issue a caution. I just feel like the end of the season though couldnt come quick enough so I can have a rest and come back next season a little more refreshed and ready to go again.

Protocol

Had one game today, up at the Highfields Complex in Nottingham, near the University. It was in the MAA and was between EMTEC and Sherwood Colliery. The sun was out for what felt like the first time pretty much all season and so I looked forward to a good game. I told myself to concentrate, be confident and enjoy it and it should go well.

Early on I had good banter with a few of the players. First off the home captain who was upset having learned the Man United score - they were 2-0 down and had come back to win 4-2.I told him I shared his pain! Shortly after this, I was told my all-black kit was clashing with the dark blue / black of the visitors and they were struggling to distinguish me with the players. I just said well I'm the one that looks disinterested, runs away from the ball and has a really poor touch! They enjoyed that and I heard no more about my strip.

The game was going ok, the first half was fairly easy, just one penalty shout that I had to turn down. The forward and goalkeeper met each quickly side on chasing a loose ball and both went down. I wasn't convinced that the forward had to go down nor that the keeper had done anything you don't expect a defender to do, it wasn't a clear push nor a barge, it was shoulder to shoulder to I waved it on.

In the second half, a couple of incidents could have been controlled better on my part. Firstly, a boot came off the away defender just after his goalkeeper had collected the ball and so I asked the keeper not to release it until his player had replaced it. He acknowledged me but then dropped the ball at his feet. After his player had replaced his shoe I waved play on and the keeper then picked the ball up, which caused a slight protest from a couple of the home players. It is an offence to pick it up after having had it under control before initially releasing it, but I waved it on anyway. Whilst it would have been harsh to give a free kick against him for doing this, it would have looked more convincing or professional to have awarded a free kick against him but asked the opposition to give it back to him.

Following this, towards the end of the game, the home striker and away keeper were in a race for the ball at the edge of the area. Arriving very close together, a fair challenge saw the ball spill loose to the edge of the box to a second home striker, but as he was receiving the ball, an away defender's boot caught his keeper on the side of the head, casuing him to go down holding it. I saw this and immediately blew for a head injury. However, as I blew, the home striker slotted the ball between two defenders in the area and into the empty goal. Because I had already blown the goal could not stand but I was now met with a bunch of frustrated home players. The captain helped me clear them away but was keen to protest the goal anyway. However, I made it clear from my position that I had done the right thing. Despite a couple of minutes of protests, they accepted the decision and the game could go on. I restarted with a drop ball to the keeper, when in actual fact, I probably should have in some way returned the ball to the opposite team having just disallowed their goal.

The game ended 1-1 and both teams had no complaints at the end and thanked me for it so that was a plus as there were a good few moans throughout. No moans either from the management so I guess a pleasing game. Hopefully tomorrows will be just as pleasing.

PROMOTION!

I arrived home from work this evening to find a letter which when I opened it was from Nottinghamshire FA. I read it and quickly learned that it was regarding my promotion from Level 7 to Level 6!

I was really pleased with this, my first step up at this level. I didn't publicise it though as to most experienced referee's, the step up from Level 7 to 6 is perhaps not the most challenging one, to the point where if you apply for it, you're more than likely going to get it. I could be wrong though but I was still pleased to progress.

Me and Milly went to the Half Moon for a celebratory meal, which I hope will become a tradition! Now for Level 5!

Stand up tall!

My CML appointment this week came late as I replaced another official a week or two prior to this game. I was told to leave my Church Warsop scarf at home! - a play on the fact that I'm from the next village, when typically you travel some distance for games, albeit this one was in Dronfield anyway, some 20 miles away.

I was to be junior official to Neil Howard, with Peter Bailey on the opposite line. I'd not met Peter before but had seen Neil 3 or 4 times at The Swan on a Saturday afternoon so it was good to put a name to a face.

This one got off to an interesting start as a number of Church Warsop players travelling together had an accident and so couldn't make it to the ground, leaving CWFC with just 8 available players. They came to see what they could do and were informed that they had to play as the minimum to start with was 8. They tried to make an emergency signing to get the manager available but the deadline had passed, though they found out that the assistant was registered so that gave them 9. They also managed to contact an U18 player who lived close by who set off and arrived after 30 minutes.

That left Dronfield with half an hour with a 2 man advantage, over a team that were already 3 places off the bottom, whilst the home side are fighting for the title. Still, despite much Dronfield pressure, they couldn't find a way through. They had few shots at goal and were made to work hard against the 9 men camped in their own box. The story was the same when the CWFC 10th man arrived and joined his teammates on the pitch.

The possession stats must've been high in Dronfield's favour yet they were hardly troubling the away goalkeeper. As the minutes ticked by, Dronfield were left frustrated as they just couldn't find their way past to get any clear shots on target and could even have lost it towards the end as the lone Church Warsop striker had a few chances running at the last defender but was only able to try from distance, never coming close.

Eventually the whistle sounded for a very surprising 0-0 result, which I later read was the first time I had officiated in a game that had ended 0-0 in all of my 156 matches to date.

I had relatively little to do in both halves, even though most of the action in the second half was in front of me. I made sure I signalled correctly and was always in line with the second last defender etc. I received a good piece of advice at half time when the referee's missus, who was also a referee and an assessor said for me to stand up tall when looking along the line as I have a tendancy to lean forward to look closer at any action that looks like it may be close - offside, fouls etc.

These words rang in my ears in the second half and it registered with me how often in a game I do lean forward and so each time I did I stood up straight and I'm sure that from now on I will take notice of these words which will surely help me in my quest to take my refereeing further.

Ouch!

To start the day off today I had 2 games at Bothamsall, as Walesby Juniors U12 played FC '05 Bilsthorpe, before Walesby's U14 side played Glapwell FC, who I used to know as Skegby Colts when I was a manager in this age group. I was also originally down to do the Walesby U16 game against Lowdham Colts too but there's only so much I can do before heading off for my senior game! I was surprised actually to find myself down for 3 11-aside games this weekend, but released the third game quite early on.

The FC 05 side was the same that I had done last week in the Notts Shield semi final so as that competition usually ends with teams of a high standard, felt that they would probably go on to win quite convincingly. As it were, they were 1-0 down after 28 seconds! Having seen this Walesby side a couple of times this year, they're quite reliant on a quick, talented striker and it was him causing the problems again.

The lead didn't last long though as 2 minutes later Bilsthorpe equalised, and went ahead about 15 minutes after this. Walesby replied shortly before half time to make it 2-2 at the break.

On a personal note, I was struggling this weekend as I knocked my knee playing football last weekend and it hadn't recovered at all over the last 5 or 6 days and was causing me a lot of pain as I ran. I decided not to put myself through it too much, as I was concerned for my afternoon game so felt I could do these 2 games with very little running. I could see most of the action from around the centre of the pitch, especially at these age groups and so I didn't need to be on top of play all the time.

I controlled the game quite well from a slightly central position and was glad when I could blow for full time for this first game. It ended 4-3 to Bilsthorpe in a result which looked as though it had surprised most as it appeared that they had expected a much easier game but Walesby had made them work really hard for all 3 points.

The second game was a little more one sided as Walesby had only brought 9 players and were facing top of the league Glapwell. They defended well to start with and had kept it at 0-0 for about 12 minutes before Glapwell eventually took the lead. They controlled the game from then on and were 6-0 up at half time. They then continued this performance into the second half, coming out 10-0 victors at the end, a little harsh on the home side who had worked hard.

I was ready to finish by the time this game had ended as my knee was really causing me a lot of grief and I was quite concerned that I would not be able to do my afternoon fixture in Dronfield. I did though learn that I am just as capable of refereeing youth games at a distance and don't always need to be on top of play, though this is a habit I don't want to fall out of, especially in my more senior games.

Busy Weekend! - Sunday

I followed up my Saturday games with 2 very difficult games on Sunday. The first was a Mansfield Sunday League game at the Manor Complex, as Mansfield United met Shirebrook RBL.

Both sides tackled hard, but Shirebrook were by far the more physcial side all over the pitch, more so the captain as he threw himself quick and hard into every challenge. I had to ensure I was in a good position to see whether he was endangering his opponents, but more often than not, his challenges were well timed and fair, despite them being very strong. When he was arriving late I shouted to ensure that he remained cautious and fair and very few times early on did I need to stop play for fouls.

However, as the game went on, the tackles got stronger, especially as frustration at some offences crept into play. I had to eventually caution the captain for an unneccessary kick out on a player after making a tackle where he didn't come out as the winner of the ball. His opposite number also received a caution for a swipe at a player, which he accepted, but I couldn't understand why he had made the tackle in the first place.

The easiest caution of the day came when a home player had beaten a number of men and was about to enter the box when the away number 3 took hold of his midrift from behind with both hands and dragged him to the floor. He ended up inside the penalty area but the offence occurred just outside, whilst he was also close to being last man, but not quite. He accepted his caution gracefully and play moved on from the free kick, which was lofted way over the goal.

The second half became more difficult as both sides looked for a goal, there was a penalty claim at both ends before a clear penalty was given to the home side, which at the time made it 1-1. This frustrated Shirebrook further having held the lead for a while and so they became reckless in many of their challenges. I had to have words with both full backs before issuing a further caution to the centre back who was constantly barracking me at every opportunity. I had spoken to him a number of times before finally issuing him a yellow card.

The earlier caution to the away number 3 did nothing to change his game and he continued to commit minor infringements as well as shout at me a number of times and had I been in a fouler mood, there were a good few occasions where he could have been sent from the field of play deservedly. The Shirebrook captain also made clear his intent on hurting his opposite number too as they battled for control of the midfield and I had to have stern words with him, which seemed to work as he remained on the pitch for the duration.

In the end, it finished 1-1, even more surprisingly both sides ended with 11 men. I didn't hear much from any of the away players after the game as they headed off quite promptly but the Mansfield United side all praised me in what was a very tough game. I had thoroughly enjoyed it though and believed I had controlled it well and not allowed either side to dictate my decisions. Every card was required at the time and I made my way to the second game hoping my form could continue into it.

Despite the later game being between U14 sides, the match was just as physcial and verbal as their had been history between the 2 and a strong referee was required - too bad they ended up with me!

I recognised a number of the home players (Sherwood Colliery) from Saturday football and even a couple of the away side (Greasley MW) and thought the game would be very close. As it was, Greasley went 2-0 up quite early, before Sherwood pulled it level just before half time.

There were a number of strong challenges and I ensured that any that needed dealing with was done so in a quick, vocal and stern manner as not to allow for it to continue. Very few players in either side backed out of any tackles and so it was a very difficult game, with many free kicks.

Had I taken on this game 12 months ago I feel I may have struggled but now I am confident in my ability as a referee, especially at youth level and ensure that I let nothing go that requires dealing with. I don't shy away from making decisions, talking to players who require it and let nothing, including the technical team, from swaying my decisions, despite both sets of managers bouncing up and down the touchline all game.

A very heavy challenge in the middle of the park near the end of the first half resulted in one player being sidelined for a good 10 minutes before returning, needed dealing with. I cautioned the player after a good chat. It was his first offence and it didn't merit a red card, despite the protests of the opposition, including the downed players mother!

I had to also caution a couple of players for persistent offences, after speaking to each one a couple of times before eventually showing them the yellow card. I would much rather talk to a player to get them to watch how they are challenging rather than producing a card straight away but after a couple of talking's to, if the issue continues, cards are needed to ensure control is fully with me.

Sherwood eventually took the game 3-2 and there was an injury time shout for a penalty to Greasley for handball, which I didn't believe was the case and in the end, after 7 yellow cards and a tough 70 minutes, I blew for full time. I was greeted first by both assistants who thanked me for a good game before the Greasley manager made his way towards me. I thought I was in for an ear bashing before he took hold of my hand, pulled me in close by his side and thanked me for an absolutely perfect game, except the last second penalty decision!

This was very pleasing and gives me a great boost to my confidence, that even the losing manager can be this gracious and also aware that I had done very well in this game. On reflection, I can't actually think if too much that I could have done better in this game and hope that I perform at this level every week. I know I need to take this level of performance into the senior leagues but I believe it will come in good time.

Busy Weekend! - Saturday

Without a doubt this weekend was by far my most busiest, challenging and tiring so far on many levels as I took charge of 5 games over the 2 days, almost 6 hours of football, and some very tough games indeed.

It started easy enough though with 2 mini soccer games at Manor School. Manor FC U8's beat Teversal FC 2-1 in a close battle, whilst Manor FC Vipers U8's went down by 5 goals to 1 to Shirebrook Rangers. Both games were easy enough as expected.

I then made my way to Borrowash for my afternoon Central Midlands game where I was in the middle for the first time at this level since the beginning of November. I also had the pleasure of being informed just as I arrived at the ground that I was being assessed by Ernie Broughton, so I certainly had to be at my best as I continue in my quest for promotion.

The first thing I had to do on arrival was do a pitch inspection as there had been overnight frost and the ground had been pretty solid. A local referee had checked it earlier in the day and whilst it was unplayable at that time, he didn't want to call the game off if it improved over the day and so left it to me to decide whether it was fit to play on.

It was still quite solid underfoot and you could tell that a couple of inches down that the ground was still frozen but there was a good inch or two on the surface that was soft and the divots were soft so didn't pose a danger to the players so I was happy to allow the game to be played. A member of the away side (Heanor Town) management wasn't happy with the pitch but he was the only one moaning and as the decision was mine, the game was to be played.

My assessor arrived and we spoke about various things, from the pitch, expectations of me, fitness etc and he informed me that the pitch looked good and I was correct to allow the game to go ahead. I prepared for the match, had a breif warm up and then called the two teams out to start the game.

I try not to change my game just because I'm being assessed but I guess I am a little conscious throughout that he is there so I probably sharpen up in some areas. It was a difficult game on a difficult pitch with 2 physical sides and the pitch soon began to cut up and become very boggy in areas and so the tackles came in quick and fast. I had to be on the ball right from the off and cut out any tackles that I believe were reckless, making allowances for the fact that often it is difficult to avoid making contact with the player due to the conditions, but these still had to not pose a danger to the opposition.

There were a number of players sliding in at every opportunity and I judged each one on it's own merit, allowing play to go on if it was fair, playing advantages were possible, or stopping play if they were unfair. On the 16th minute I cautioned the Heanor Town right back after a period where there had been 3 or 4 harsh challenges and so I thought a card was necessary to control the situation. The tackle itself was worthy of a yellow card as the quick Borrowash winger had beaten his man and was heading for the box before being tripped by the offender. He accepted the card and the game swiftly moved on.

I had a worry at the start of the game as this was my first real challenge since the Xmas period that my fitness wasn't at where it should be but I didn't feel too bad out there, even on the heavy ground. I kept up with play well and was always close by when making a decision, whether it be to give a foul or to decide whether the flag from either [club] assistant was correct, as at times they were both quite out of line, not up with play.

At half time, I was happy that the half had gone well, the score was 1-1, which reflected how even the game was at that point, and I then spent half time speaking to the assessor. He said I was doing well and that the caution was spot on, came at the right time and set the tone for what I was happy or unhappy with. He mentioned that I was getting about the pitch well, didn't have any problems with my fitness or speed, and that I was controlling the game well. He gave me a few pointers to work on in the second half. Firstly to improve my signalling as I have a tendancy to not give a clear indication as to which way I have given a decision, and also to be more vocal to assist the signals.

I made every effort to improve this in the second half and so every decision after the interval came with a clear arm signal and a shout as to which way I had given it. This helped to iron out any confusions with close decisions and because I was being clear which way I was indicating, there were less debates against each call.

Borrowash began to get a foothold in the game and took the lead early on, and soon after there was controversy when I overuled the Heanor Town's assistant's flag as he indicated an offside against 2 players on the opposite side of the pitch from him. I was close to both and believed one could have been offside but was adament that the recipient of the ball had come from his own half and he went on to put Borrowash 3-1 up. The linesman didn't take well to this, throwing his flag to the floor and shouting to me. I spoke to him indicating my belief that the player who had the ball wasn't offside as I was in a good position to see this.

This incident, together with the fact Heanor were slipping out of the game took it's toll and Borrowash ran riot, eventually coming out 6-1 winners. I was still happy with my performance despite the controversy and pleased that I only needed the one caution to help control the game.

The assessor met me after the game and we discussed a number of things. He actually said that the assistant was correct and that I was wrong to overule him on this occasion, but seemed to understand why I did as he was very rarely level with play and so I had to use my own judgement on most of his decisions. I did go with him on most occasions but the one that I had chosen to ignore him looked to have had an impact.

Following the assistants frustration, he was even further from play for the remainder of the game and the assesor informed me that 2 more of the goals late on were offside but neither I nor the assistant was in a position to make the call, which was a little disappointing.

Overall, I was still pleased with my performance. I felt I controlled the game well, which was difficult due to the conditions and the 2 competitive sides. My fitness was fine, my signals were good, especially in the second half and I played some good advantages. However, due to the fact that I chose to ignore the assistant when he was in fact correct, and this led to 2 further mistakes with offside calls, I am not expecting the greatest of assessment reports or scores. I'll take it all in my stride though, learn from it and hope that it continues to improve my game.