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.

False Labour!

I had to wait a fortnight for my second game of 2011-12, where I was appointed as assistant on the Central Midlands fixture between Yorkshire Main and Westella & Willerby. Pete Craggs was the official and James Robinson on the opposite line.

At this point I hadn't closed my dates or withdrawn from Central Midlands football, although having said that I was still happy to pick up midweek games anyway. I still didn't feel like the season had got underway yet so was still in pre-season mode but this was a league fixture and in fact both sides had already got a number of games under their belt.

Again, the preperations didn't go quite to plan as it was arranged for Pete to pick me up at about 5:30 but I got held up at work and didn't leave until 5:25. My phone battery had also died so it was a case of rushing home as quickly as possible to Pete who was already there waiting for me. Next problem - I didn't have a house key and the door was locked, with no signs of Amelia! I guessed she might be at my sisters who had just had my little neice so Pete wisked me there quickly to pick up the key, and then took me back home for me to get my bag.

We got to the ground in good time though and took in the preparations. I guess with how unprepared for the new season I was, both physically, mentally and kit wise, it was fortunate to have started with 2 games as assistant. I needed to get on the ball quickly though as pretty soon the season will be in full flow.

I was the senior assistant today so given the delights of the dugouts, though despite them being a little vocal, it wasn't too bad.

Pete felt that he'd had a poor game overall as he did have many people on his back throughout the game, but I believe he had done well. The game had finished 5-1 to Yorkshire Main after the visitors had gone 1-0 up before running out of steam.

More fun and games were to be had though as I got passed a message on that Amelia had gone into labour! So after the game it was skip the drinks and get home asap! Thankfully though despite her being in great amounts of pain and it appears had been pretty much since I'd left that evening, it was only false labour! Any time now though!!

Unprepared

My first game of the new campaign was handed to me by the Sunday League referee secretary Pete Lang. It was for a friendly that was to be played on the Wednesday night at Pinxton Welfare.

I wasn't given the names of the teams that I would be doing and also despite it being a Wednesday night, I still assumed that it was a friendly for Sunday league teams, with it being Pete Lang that had appointed me.

It was a 7:45pm kick off so I aimed to get there by about 7:15pm but just short of 7pm I received a call from the referee asking about my whereabouts. Luckily I was in Pinxton just looking for the Welfare and the referee guided me the rest of the way. I was already changed too thinking it was a Sunday League fixture therefore the facilities aren't usually decent.

I got there to find out it was an U18 friendly between Mansfield Town and Pinxton. I was quite pleased then to have been appointed on it but felt a bit daft walking in with 30 minutes to go before kick off when the other 2 officials had probably been there a while.

More confusion ensued when I got into the changing rooms and then when looking through my bag, couldn't find my boots! It was a long way back to the car too but then the assistant pointed out that they were on the floor and I'd carried them in! Don't remember that at all!! Good start to the season!

The game was quite disappointing, Pinxton surprisingly won 1-0 and there wasn't much for either team to write home about. Still, it was good to get the season underway and to have had a run out on the line as I doubt I'll be doing too many games as assistant this year.

2011-12 Season

Following my succesful promotion last year to level 6, it would have been great to continue to aim for another this campaign but with the impending birth of my little baby, I don't feel that I should be out for the majority of the weekends, especially as I doubt I would see much of it during the week. Therefore I decided against applying to progress to level 5.

It was a shame as it feels like a minor setback if I am ever to reach the dizzy heights of league football, but I still wanted to gain some experience this year and so whilst pulling out of Saturday afternoon football, as well as Sundays due to me playing again, I had committed to the Youth League for Saturday mornings and informed the new Central Midlands Referee Secretary that I would be available for midweek games and may pick up the odd Saturday game when possible.

This way I would continue to gain experience, stay on the circuit, keep fit and also have a little spare cash for the pocket. I'm sure I will continue to enjoy my officiating this season and it'll be interesting to see what memories will be created in the next 12 months.

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.