Consistency

Following yesterday's near-perfect brace of games I was determined to ensure my performance continued into today's game in the Notts Combination for Headstocks away at Pure, a fixture I had started the season against in a pre-season game that ended 5-0 to Headstocks.

This time we travelled to the other side of Nottingham for the tie as Pure hadn't been able to organise a referee themselves, so Headstocks had asked me to take the game. It probably looked a little dubious the referee turning up with the away team but they were expecting me! I just hope the game went well enough for me to still be ok for a lift back again!

As it was, Pure started on fire, creating a couple of chances early on and taking a deserved lead inside the first 10 minutes. Headstocks weren't at the races and were being well beaten in every position and were lucky to go into the half time break only 1-0 down. They could also claim to be unfortunate too as what appeared to be a perfectly good goal from a free kick was flagged for offside and I wasn't in a position to overrule it. The ball was played into a crowded box but on the kick the defence had ran forward to force the offside trap, there were 2 Headstocks players clearly off but the player on the end of it had made a run and I was unsure whether he was onside and had no choice but to go with the linesman who was adament he was off. Tasty finish though as it flew into the top corner on the volley.

Headstocks certainly heard their managers' opinion during the interval as he tore into his usually high standard side. They came out much better for the second half and a period of sustained pressure saw Headstocks level and soon after it was 2-1. They went 3-1 before Pure pulled one back and threatend for a moment to spoil the party. But the away side got a fortuatous brace near the end as the ageing keeper made hard work of two efforts from distance and Pure may feel very hard done to having lost 5-2.

I had very little to do in the game other than wade through the thick muddy sludge as a result of the weekend downpour, and I was congratulated again at the end of the game by both sides. I was really pleased that 3 games in a row had ended in such a positive manner and it gives me strong belief that I can progress to the end of the season in such great form but I don't wanna get carried away after 3 good games.

Finally, some positivity!

After what felt like many bad games back to back, either with my performance, confidence or the fact that I'd inadvertently ticked off one too many managers over the past few weeks, I went into this weekends games determined to ensure everything went as smoothly as possible, and low and behold, I had 2 almost perfect performances.

I started at King George fields in Berry Hill for a cup game between U16 First Division side Forest Town Pumas and Second Division Woodhouse Colts, in a game that was billed to be very one sided. In fact it was a very close tie with Woodhouse's guts neautralising Forest Town's quality, and it was the lower side that took the lead in the opening few minutes of the second half and held it for some time. It was inevitable though that Forest Town would eventually break them down, they'd done everything but including hit the bar, and force a world class save from the very petit Woodhouse stopper. They levelled with a great strike from distance before a mix up at the back between last defender and keeper saw the lanky Town striker nip in between and nod the ball over them both and into the empty goal.

At this point, Forest Town played a lot more casually, with some neat one touch football and stylish tricks but most attacks came to nothing prompting their skipper to remind them they were 2-1 up not 6-1. They were reminded of this even further when with just a couple of minutes to go, a long ball hit forward released a nippy Woodhouse striker who slotted in to equalise and force extra time.

I spoke with one of the makeshift linesman at the end of normal time who praised my performance and the flow of the game, to which I hoped this would continue. Unfortunately, I wasn't going to get everything spot on today and the biggest mestake I made came midway through the first period of extra time. The tall Town striker had forced his way through the Woodhouse defence and was bearing down on goal when one of the centre backs made a last ditch attempt to get a toe to the ball. From where I was it looked like he'd managed to do so, despite the striker crashing to the ground under the tackle. I waved him up much to the disgust of the home crowd and management and play continued.

Forest Town had by far the majority of possession and chances but couldn't find their way through the resilient Colts defence again and they began to get a little frustrated, causing one late tackle near the end of the game to wind up in my book. It hadn't been that sort of game though and was a shame to have had to caution someone so late but it probably would've only been a talking to anyway until he leathered the ball at an opposition player!

And so we had penalties to decide the outcome. The football fan in me wanted the underdogs to succeed but the referee in me hoped Forest Town made it so I wouldn't hear anything else of the penalty decision I knew I had got wrong during extra time. As it were, I had nothing to worry about as Woodhouse missed their first two kicks in very much a Waddle and Pearce fashion and went on to lose the shootout 4-2. I got a lot of congratulations for my part of a great game though the Forest Town manager did question the earlier penalty appeal to which I stated that I had probably got it wrong, to which he was quite ok with - it's a wonder what winning does to a person!

So the first game was a success but I wasn't feeling too confident about the second going so well. It was an U17 league game between Skegby Colts and Woodhouse Colts. This was my big return to Skegby having taken them near the start of the season in a very eventful cup game with Ollerton that ended 5-4 to the latter after extra time, in a match where I gave a penalty decision in the first minute against the home team, cautioned someone who really should've been sent off for a tackle that broke a leg, and had 120 minutes of earache from most of the Skegby players. Was I looking forward to this one, I think not!

Still, I like the challenge so went into the game with confidence and the feeling that I was going to have a good game. It started weirdly though as Skegby didn't appear from the changing room until 1:45 when kick off should've been 1:30. We eventually got started and the game started well. There were some meaty tackles right from the off but most were fair and I had no hesitation calling back the ones that weren't. I had to speak to a couple of players from each side as the tackles got harder and harder and I thought it may not be too long before someone needs booking but I resisted for as long as I could but made it clear that I wouldn't just stand by and watch while someone got hurt.

Skegby controlled much of the game and took a 2-0 goal lead into half time. The second half was contested just as hard but the tackles got fairer and I was pleased I hadn't shown a card yet. A third goal was scored by the home side which all but ended the tie and with this, a young player I recognised from the first game as being the guy who should've been sent where instead I gave a yellow, entered the field of play from the bench. Straight away he began making a nuisance of himself, going in a little hard on a player already on the floor, pulling shirts unneccessarily off the ball and then he took a dive from a clean sliding tackle. I had no hesitation but to book him and his captain, who had spent the 120 minutes of the cup game earlier in the season bellowing at me for every right or wrong decision, this time spent his energy wisely aiming his pleas at the young player who was doing everything he could to turn the yellow into red.

Woodhouse offered little throughout the game and were deservingly beaten 4-0 in all and no more cards were required in the game. It had been another great game and I was pleased when the Skegby manager came to chat about a perfect performance, praising me for resisting getting the cards out too soon and also for how I handled his mouthy substitute. It had been a great day and I felt my confidence grow as I learned from previous weeks, ensuring I went into the games fully focused and prepared to show whose in charge. I later heard that from one of the managers from the 2 games today I had received 100% marks, which can't happen very often!

More controversy!

I had hoped after recent weeks that my single game of the weekend could go fluently, just for once, without any issues on my part. Everyone knows a referee should be heard and not seen, and from our viewpoint, a succesful match means we've turned up, said little, let the game flow, got paid and gone home! This was just another of those games that from fairly early on I just wanted to go home!

Arriving at Forest Town Welfare shortly before the game, I spoke with both managers, checked the pitch and the goals and prepared to have a good game. It was an under 13's game, which from previous experiences this season run fairly smoothly and from the discussions with the managers, looked as though it would be fairly one sided with Forest Town - the top flight team, having beaten Blackwell - a division 2 side, comfortably in previous meetings.

I remembered many of the Forest Town players from when I had taken my old Welbeck side their on a couple of occasions and knew they were a talented, though very arrogant and unsporting side. However it was Blackwell that started the brighter, playing on the counter they forced 2 or 3 clear opportunities to break but couldn't quite muster a clear shot on goal, before Forest Town started to take control. They took the lead through a well taken lob and were 2-0 up soon after from a long range effort that the short Blackwell keeper couldn't get across to.

There was then a clash in the Blackwell penalty box when their tough centre back went into a 50-50 tackle strongly with a smaller but fiesty Forest Town winger. The ball was very much there to be won and both lads went in hard but the home player went in a little harder with one foot showing a little too much stud, catching the Blackwell player just above the shinpad. There were bellows from the sides for a red card and after ensuring the Blackwell player wasn't too injured, I pulled the winger to one side to have words and to book him.

In recent weeks I've been disappointed that when speaking to players I've not been clear or confident enough, and that it was a big part of my game I needed to improve upon. This time I ensured I spoke firmly and clearly, informing the player that his tackle was a little reckless, he had every right to go for the ball and hadn't put a foot wrong up to that point but that it did merit a booking. He accepted it which made it easy, hopefully I'll be as confident when speaking to older players and also be able to deal confidently with any follow up verbal.

The Blackwell touchline committee were angry that only a yellow had been shown and after speaking to their manager that it was a yellow card offense, it appeared that a recent match between the 2 sides had seen the cautioned player play in a dangerous manner, resulting in a broken ankle for a Blackwell player. Unfortunately I don't have access to previous history of teams at this level and it doesn't quite make the News of the World. I can only focus on the game to hand. At one point the Blackwell physio attending to the player was raving about the tackle, telling me to get a grip on the game and that the tackle was shocking and merited a red card, and he should know as he's a doctor.... I had to laugh, does this then give me the right to march into his surgery and claim that the last injection he just did was shocking and I should know as I'm a referee?!!

The Blackwell sideline were clearly infuriated by the incident and it was made worse shortly after when another player was caught in possession going forward, colliding with the Forest Town player nipping in to take the ball away from under him causing him to go down on the half way line but play continued. As it wasn't a head injury, the player didn't look under any immediate distress and the play had now moved to a totally seperate part of the field, I had no urgent requirement to stop play. Looking back I wish I had but I hoped the home side would do me a favour and kick it out of play in a sporting fashion, but they didn't and to make matters worse, they scored from it. This made the touchline furious for the remainder of the game, getting on my back at every little occasion.

I was glad to bring the first half to an end and at 3-0, the game was very much Forest Town's even at this stage. I hoped the second half would go a lot smoother, which to some extent it did but it still wasn't easy. I psyched myself up at half time to have a good second half and forget the first. Despite the incidents I still felt as though personally I was having a good game and making the correct decisions. I wasn't allowing myself to be swayed by either set of coaches and fans and just stuck to the task at hand.

There were no major incidents in the second half, just a hell of a lot of goals. 7 to be precise, all going in Forest Town's favour leaving them with a 10-0 win. There was also just a lot of moaning from one side of the field for everything that went against the away side. At one point I got an almighty - though highly ironic cheer when I did give something their way, which was nice... There was a little dispute over the first goal of the half as a Forest Town player stretched to keep the ball in play, which he did by a country mile, but the linesman did flag for the throw in, probably very wary of the Blackwell coach just 2 feet away. I was merely 10 yards away though and could see that not even a portion of the ball had crossed the line let alone all of it but the Blackwell players stopped allowing the home side an easy goal. In fairness, the Blackwell manager didn't dispute it, I'm sure he could clearly see it was still in play but at this point looked like he'd lost the will to appeal and just told his players to enjoy the rest of the game as nothing was going in their favour. Murmours on the opposite side of the pitch from the Blackwell travellers were just as bad as they felt that the world was against them, having just witnessed a goal against them after the linesman had signalled a throw in.

I was pleased to call time on the game and was congratulated by many of the home fans and coaching side, knowing that I had got at least most decisions correct, and that I had well earnt the £19 after the stick taken by the other half. I had to pass the Blackwell parents on the way to the car and at first considered just waiting for them all to leave first before deciding I'd nothing to hide from and as long as I managed the situation well enough I should be ok. I got a handshake from 'the doctor' which I was pleased about as he was one of the Blackwell sides leading the protests, then despite some of the narkings of the parents, showing concern for one of the injured players went down well and we ended up discussing the lack of sportsmanship from Forest Town on a number of occasions, namely when one player had been felled and took a bump to the head, the home side were seen to be laughing. It was very disappointing but from my position there's not a great deal I could do other than issue warnings, which I did and nothing else became of it. Still, another day, another dollar!

Benefits of a linesman!!

I've said earlier on this blog that I'm hoping progression into the higher leagues with neutral assistants will make my job as a referee much easier and after this match that day can't come soon enough!

The game was FC Headstocks against La Torque in the Notts Combination senior league, a reverse of the fixture I had done in November. Both sides were doing well in the league and after La Torque had edged the first game after Headstocks had spent the majority of it in front, this game was billed to be just as tight.

Headstocks have a very talented side, especially going forward, but are a bit suspect at the back. La Torque are similar, with a very ageing back 4 but an attack that is capable of mounting a fairly powerful counter attack.

The first half went well, ending 0-0 and with little to write home about from my point of view. Headstocks controlled and really should have been 2 or 3 up with the chances they created. There were a number of appeals for pushes in the back from La Torque which I remember plenty of in the first game. There was nothing in them though, often the hand was on a back but no pressure was applied so it's no foul. If I pulled it up every time they appealed the game would've been stop-start throughout. I'd hoped for just as little controversy in the second half but unfortunately it didn't quite go to plan.

Only 4 minutes had been played when a La Torque defender played the ball and allowed his keeper to pick it up - a backpass. I made the call and the away side began to protest whilst the home side placed the ball down and stuck it into the unguarded net. I ruled this out and now I had 2 sets of players coming at me! I made it clear to La Torque that it was a backpass and ordered them to get on the line ready for the impending indirect free-kick, whilst informing the Headstocks players that the goal was not only ruled out due to the protests and haste in which it was taken but the position, as they were only 3 yards from the line when they tried to restart, instead of the minimum 6. The ball was respotted and I instructed the wall not to break until the ball was played but before I could blow to indicate the restart, the wall broke and the ball was played and hammered into the crowd of players. I had the kick retaken again and made it clear that the whistle needed to blow before they could start and anyone breaking from the line early would find themselves in the book.

The third time of asking was a success and the ball again was hammered at the wall but it stood firm and there was a large scramble as La Torque tried to clear their lines. A few swipes were taken before one defender tried to clear but instead chose to control it before the keeper took it off his toe leading to another very debated free kick. This time it was taken first time without incident and it was scored to put Headstocks 1-0 up. The La Torque players spent the next few minutes appealing at everything and took their focus right off the game, which cost them a second goal shortly after.

A long hit downfield from the Headstocks keeper was flicked on by the first striker and slotted in by the second. Before the flick on though, there was a decent shout for a push in the back but there didn't look like there was much in it. The angle I was at meant the supposed pushed player blocked the Headstock striker entirely so I couldn't see the push if it had occurred so there was more appeals when the goal was scored. I had believed it was a false appeal but was disappointed that on the return to his half for the kick off, the accused striker shrugged the appeal off and said that if they could get away with it then why not. I made it a priority from this point to ensure I had a clear view of any aerial challenges and give any benefit of doubt to the away side.

The rest of the game was controversy free but La Torque's focus had shifted from the game to any infringements and they eventually lost 5-0. I was pleased with my performance throughout the majority of the game but found the earlier incident tough to manage. As the title of the post suggests, it would have been a lot easier had there been neutral assistants but as I was out there on my own, I think I did reasonably well.

Early Valentines Cards!

Today was one of my busiest days in terms of having to show yellows with 4 over the games. Probably could have been more as there were one or two others pushing for a yellow, whilst at least 2 of the yellows may have been reds on another day.

Starting at Debdale Lane, Manor 4th against Skegby Colts in the 1st round of the Knockout Cup. This was the fourth time the sides had attempted to play this match, luckily my trip wasn't wasted and the game went ahead. The first moment of controversy came prior to the kick off when both sides were exchanging cards. I was questioned about whether new signings made by Skegby were available for selection as they had not yet played for their side, but Manor were insisting that 3 league games should be played before they can play in the cup. I wasn't sure of the rules but something at the back of mind told me that rules were for finals only. A quick phone call to the league registrar confirmed this and the game went commenced.

Skegby started the brightest and had the ball over the line - just, with only 2 minutes played. The Manor keeper had struggled to stop it crossing and at one point had pulled it back from over the line. I was on the edge of the box and had made my mind up that it had gone over and the reaction of players on both teams confirmed it, together with the linesman, who was a Manor representative, so it was good to find an honest one.

Manor equalised not too long after and then midway through the first half I awarded a penalty for a trip after a Manor player had knocked the ball past a defender who then clearly obstructed him. It was a penalty but Skegby weren't happy about it and made their feelings pretty clear. The funny thing is though, it was an obvious obstruction and had it been out of the box no-one would have had any complaints. The penalty was missed though so as far as Skegby were concerned it was a let off and they could get on with the game.

A couple of times during the first half I had to have words with a Manor defender who had gone in a little recklessly when challenging for the ball in the air. Whilst the ball was dropping, he was jumping way too early whilst turning his back into an opponent, together with arms flailing and legs raised. I awarded a free kick the first time before reprimanding him the second.

On the stroke of half time, Manor broke and took the lead for the first time in the game. I blew the whistle almost as soon as the game restarted. It was an even first half though Manor had possibly just edged it. They were to pretty much control the second half but Skegby did have some chances. Just prior to half time though, I had felt quite a painful tweak at the top of my right leg and was struggling to get about the pitch. I tried to run it off but it didn't look like anything that was going to disappear any time soon. I rang the ref scretary during the break to cancel my second game but there was no-one to replace me so they might have to go without a ref. I decided to run as little as possible during the second half and if the pain got any worse, come off and let the teams sort out who would take over, or see if a ref from the surrounding pitches could replace me.

In fact, the second half went quite well, with Manor pressing mostly so keeping the ball in one half for the majority but the times that Skegby did break, I was able to keep up with play fairly well. Manor went 3-1 up and any fears of extra time was starting to look bleak, which was a blessing, but Skegby were more than in the game. They were probably a little agreived that they weren't awarded a penalty when from a throw in into the box, the player that I had spoken to in the first half pushed a Skegby player in the back sending him to the floor. It was on the edge of the box, probably even just inside but it felt like a very soft penalty if I awarded it but I stopped play to caution the player as this was his 5th offence and the 3rd time I spoke to him. I then gave Skegby a free kick on the edge of the box but nothing came of it. Manor wrapped the game up late on to make it 4-1, which felt a little hard on Skegby, but I was pleased that I had lasted the second half and there was a good 90 minute before the second game was to start. I was a little worried about having to do it but I was going to give it a go but mention to the Welbeck manager that I was suffering a little.

I got to the Welbeck game about 20 minutes before it was due to start. Both teams were in the changing rooms so I warmed up, whilst checking the pitch and the goals. I wasn't feeling the strain from earlier so I didn't mention the injury to either manager and the game got under way. Both sides were familiar, like most teams are starting to get, though I knew the Welbeck side and had taken one of their matches at home this season but I couldn't initially put my finger on when I last saw Robin Hood, the opposition. I remembered it was in Sutton a few months ago for a big cup game against Drezden, and this was confirmed when I was told that they were awaiting one of their key players to arrive from a County match, which had happened the first time around.

This game was heated from the start, when in the first minute two players clipped each other and began exchaning insults. It was quite petty and I simply told them to cut it out. It was a close, tight affair that could have gone either way. Both sides broke forward plenty, firing shots around the goal, winning corners, and looking likely to soon break the deadlock. Robin Hood had a great chance when a long range effort crashed back off the crossbar and the follow up shot was brilliantly pushed onto the post by the Welbeck keeper. Robin Hood were unlucky not to be one up but from the resulting corner, their skipper met the cross perfectly with his head and neither the Welbeck keeper nor the defender on the line could get to it.

Welbeck tried in vain to get back into the game but they tired as the half time break got closer and Robin Hood began to command the match, especially as their County player had arrived and was causing problems. The game threatened at times to boil over as players from both the rival sides tackled strongly and there were a few reactions but nothing that needed any more than a few words. The linesmen from each side weren't making it any easier as every attack saw the flag raised, rightly or wrongly and a lot of the time it was difficult to overrule from my position, especially when it was raised on the counter attack. A number of times I was having to be shouted to see that the flag was up due to probable incorrect calls as any time the ball is played where a player may be offside I always look across the line to the assistant. This got the players backs up too asking me to overrule where possible.

The second half ran similar to the first, with the teams being fairly even in standard, though Welbeck were the first in the half to find the net. They also had a penalty shout soon after the goal when they broke to a one-on-one situation but the Welbeck striker trod on the ball when about to shoot, causing the ball to roll into the keepers arms whilst he took a bad tumble. Clearly the Welbeck crowd didn't see how this had happened and bellowed for the spotkick and I had to take a little flack for a couple of minutes for not awarding anything but I would have had no hesitation had there been a decision to make.

Robin Hood returned to the lead with about 20 minutes to go and so Welbeck again had to find their way back into the game. Their backs were up once again when their striker and a Robin Hood defender were heading towards the Robin Hood goal, whilst trying to fend each other off fairly shoulder to shoulder. The Robin Hood defender had to be careful as during the run he had become the last defender and the Welbeck player had started to edge in front and getting closer to the goal but he still had work to do. His last touch saw him knock the ball a little too far in front of him so he was in a race with the keeper for the ball whilst the defender was also close by. As the Welbeck player ran across the defender, he was hacked back by the hands of the defender but simultaneously the Robin Hood keeper had won the race to the ball. I blew for the foul and there was a little anxiety as to whether their would be a red card shown. I called the defender over who was a little reluctant to speak properly at first as I talked him through the incident. He replied that he didn't care to the foul which negated the protests of his teammates claiming their was no offence, whilst giving 'Mr Blobby' as his surname - possibly enough to turn a yellow into a red. I said he was lucky that his keeper had won the race to the ball otherwise he would be walking, I showed him the yellow card before Welbeck made nothing of a free kick on the edge of the box.

Their were plenty of personal battles on the pitch and a couple from each side were lucky not to be cautioned but late on a Robin Hood player found himself in the book by purposely tripping an opponent as Welbeck broke. 30 seconds later and a Welbeck forward was in the book for the same thing as frustrations began to show. It wasn't helped by the sideslines from each side as they were gearing up their own players and encouraging them to go in hard on the other side. Finally, I was able yo bring the game to a close and Robin Hood edged a close game, probably deservedly so. Whilst their was one or two narks aimed my way by disgruntled players and supporters, the majority of the lads knew the game ran well and thanked me for a good game. I was just pleased to come out of it without feeling my earlier injury too much!

3 Games = Knackered!!

I was initially down for a couple of games in Glapwell this weekend but heard at the start of the week due to changes in fixtures after the recent bad weather, that I would now be doing two games back to back locally for Market Warsop, both at under 15's as they have 2 sides. A couple of days later I was asked if I could also take Welbeck under 17's after this, which for some reason I accepted. Don't get me wrong, I really need the money as the wedding gets closer but the under 15's games were 40 minutes each half, so the 3 matches would total 250 minutes of football - over 4 hours!! I did let Welbeck know that I may arrive later than their initial 1:30pm kick off as the second match wouldn't finish until about then but they were fine to start with one of the linesman as referee until I get there.

The first match went well - as far as I were concerned. Both sides were familiar as it was the second time I had taken each side. Market Warsop Windmills were a relatively poor side languishing near the foot of division 3 but they had a couple of decent lads, whilst Rolls Royce could play a bit but still weren't taking the bottom tier by storm. Warsop started the brightest and got a few early shots off but Rolls scored with their first chance, an own goal by a Warsop defender and shortly after I had to give a penalty as Rolls' tricky forward knocked the ball past a Warsop defender only for it to catch his hand in full. It was harsh as it was hard to avoid it but it was a penalty. Not many appealed it, before it was taken and scored.

Warsop got back into the game before another own goal on the stroke of half time meant Rolls went in 3-1 up. With the game threatening to stretch beyond Warsop, tempers got a little frayed and a late challenge created a little havoc as players pushed and shoved and I had to book one from each side before the game restarted. Warsop pulled one back in the second half through a penalty for a high foot, but Rolls were too strong and eventually won the game 5-2.

The second game started soon after and again Warsop were the side that started the brightest but were 1-0 down just 2 minutes in. This was also the second time I had taken charge of this Warsop side, the first being a 5-0 win over Manor 4th and I knew they had a very good side, but their opposition, Winthorpe & Coddington were a team full of very good players and soon started to take hold of the game, going 2-0 up midway through the half. Late in the half Warsop pulled one back when their striker went round the keeper and slotted into an empty goal. Embarrasingly I blew for half time after 35 minutes only to be reminded that U15's play 40 minutes each half. Funnily enough, both halves of the previous match were only 35 minutes and had gone totally unnoticed!

The final 5 minutes of the half were played without incident before both sides returned for the second half. Warsop were much better in the second half, creating many chances and levelling through a well taken goal by a very skilfull, young player who saw a lot of the ball and was unlucky to not contribute more to the game, though at times his distribution could have been better. It looked likely that Warsop would go on to win the game but Coddington still had a threat to their play and had really only let Warsop back in as they let their foot off the gas 2-0 up. They did return to the lead with about 15 minutes to go and then spent the remainder of the match timewasting, much to Warsop's disgust. I kept a keen eye on the time and ensured the full allocation was allowed to be played so their efforts were fruitless other than frustrating the opposition. As Warsop pressed for the leveller, their defence got a little sloppy and Coddington were allowed to attack on the counter and with about 5 minutes to go they were in the box when a player tried to swing the ball across the box only to be clattered recklessly by a Warsop defender. He did well to stay on his feet but I called the penalty which sent Warsop irate. They had nothing to complain about though as the tackle was poor. However, the penalty was missed and so they had the rest of the game to find the equaliser but it didn't come.

At the end of the game, the linesman representing Warsop threw his flag at me and had a right go at my performance but some people clearly don't handle losing very well. His tirade continued all the way back to the changing room but I don't really have a clue what more I could have done, plenty of time was added on to counter all of Winthorpe's timewasting and the penalty was missed, though even had it been scored it was a good decision. I'd even taken a shot full in the kidneys in the second half as a shot from distance came straight at me and I could do nothing to avoid it. It wasn't poor positioning on my part, I'm as much a part of the play as the players themselves and they could see where I was stood, it could have been avoided but they probably prefered to have hit me anyway than got a shot on goal!

I managed to get away at 1:45pm, the time I'd managed to talk Welbeck into kicking off to give me time to get there but due to the misjudgement of length of matches at U15, I wasn't going to get there anywhere near on time. In the end I was 15 minutes late but instead of changing the referee at this stage I just took over from one of the unofficial linesman. The game was already 1-0 to Skegby but it looked evident early on that Welbeck were a much better side. They equalised through a clear penalty about 5 minutes after I arrived, though at one point I didn't think the referee was going to give it, and then I had to laugh at his position as the kick was taken, he was about 20 yards outside the box when he blew his whistle!

During the first half, a few things looked odd from the referee's performance and I questioned whether he was actually a qualified official - ha, I'm in my first season and I'm already judging my fellow referee's!!. I had little to do in the first half other than one or two offside decisions. Skegby went 2-1 up before half time though the Welbeck keeper should have done better.

I met the referee in the centre at half time where he mentioned he was a returning referee after a few years out of the game and asked me if I wanted to take over the second half. I left it to him to decide if he wanted to continue, half wanting to take over for the money, but the other half thinking it would be weird for the players to change now and also I was getting a little leggy after the first games.

Whilst the referee's positioning wasn't great, nor some of the decisions he made, the way that he handled the discipline of the players was excellent as he was clearly confident when speaking to them and thought nothing of pulling them to one side for a word. He looked quite a young lad too and so I observed this more in the second half when he spoke to players 5 or 6 times. This is something I feel I greatly need to improve on if I am to progress through the levels as I struggle to find the words clearly in time even if the offence was obvious.

Welbeck dominated the second half and really should have won the game by 4 or 5 goals but they fired a lot of clear chances staright down the keeper's throat, and they were fortunate that I had a good view of an offence in their box early in the second half. Welbeck had already equalised when a Skegby striker latched onto a long ball. He powered towards the box and forced a lunging tackle from a Welbeck defender, however it wasn't late or reckless and the Skegby player had avoided it before going down theatrically. The referee awarded a penaly which the Welbeck players debated and so he came to me for my opinion. I immidiately assured him that it wasn't a penalty and so he reversed the decision and played on from the keeper. This slightly annoyed a Skegby striker who had already been forced to apologise to me after swearing from an offside decision I gave earlier, though he accepted my explanation of the decision pretty quickly.

Welbeck took the lead through a glorius lob from distance with about 15 minutes to go and then created a further 5 or 6 if not more chances that should have been converted, and so like the home fans behind me, you always felt that Skegby were going to nick a late equaliser, but it never came.

It was a good day and I enjoyed a little more experience as a linesman, which I need to ensure I keep doing to enable me to make a positive impression should I ever be observed or assessed. Sometimes I feel I don't have the natural assets to make a good referee where I really want to see how far I can make it but the linesman route may also offer just as many opportunities. We'll see in a few years time!