New Start at Drezden

I took full advantage of my new position as Referee Secretary and scheduled me in for 3 games at Drezden Colts, doing the U9, U14 and U15 sides. I slightly miscalculated the lengths of the U9 and U14 games as when receiving the calls to arrange the games, I lined them up so they were one after the other with 5 minutes in between. However, my miscalculation meant that the U15 had to wait 10 minutes for me to finish with the U9 and I risked missing out on this.

I put myself down for 3 games each weekend as I wanted to do as many games as I could in my first promotion year. I enjoyed being out there, felt fit enough to referee for the majority of the day and also wanted to bring in that always helpful extra income, but that wasn't the main reason. I know with every game I take I will benefit and learn something new so the more the merrier. But I don't want this to come at the expense of any sides. I didn't want to be too tired to do the latter games and have a poor game, or upset teams by making them wait for my arrival etc.

I started today by doing the U14's side against Beaufort United, in a close game that swung both ways before the away side came out 4-2 winners. The U9's then beat Welbeck Welfare 4-0 before I took over from Pete Dean, who had started my U15's game as they risked losing the main pitch if they didn't kick off on time. Drezden won 2-1 in a closely fought game with rivals Glapwell Gladiators.

I had enjoyed my first outing of the season and had no issues whatsoever, no cards, no upsets, a good start. Long may it continue!

Great game!

Great start too to the morning as I ended up at the wrong place for my match between Beaufort United U13's and Rainworth Tigers. I looked the place I was going to up on Google Maps and took the first place that it gave as the right one. Was funny sat in the car park 20 minutes before kick off with not a soul in sight! In the end I was only 3/4 of a mile from the right place and ended up there in the end.

I must've miscounted the players at the start, or maybe even forgot to do this with being in such a rush as a very close game was set up at 3-3 at half time and it was during the team talk that I heard the home side were playing with just ten men! This was an incredible effort to say that they had taken an early lead, and were leading 3-1 just 5 minutes before the break, all this whilst kicking uphill too!

To be fair, Beaufort had a very one-dimensional approach to the game, and I doubt this would have been any different if they were at full strength. They had a fairly quick and talented lone striker and the plan was to hoof the ball to him at every opportunity! It work inside 2 minutes too as the Rainworth defence misread the kick and he ran on to make it 1-0.

The first equaliser came with much dispute about it. The ball was bouncing in the Beaufort box when a home defender lashed it across his own area, to which the keeper picked it up. It was a dubious passback really thinking back but I gave it and 8 yards out, Rainworth slotted the ball home at the second attempt after the wall broke early to block the first.

The first half was pretty even, Rainworth perhaps looking the stronger overall, especially with the man advantage but looked suspect at the back, especially with Beauforts predator, who in fairly quick succession hit a first half hat trick. Rainworth were pleaded with by their management to not give up hope and a goal a few minutes before half time raised their spirits and a second right on the whistle saw them go in level.

Rainworth had the momentum going into the break and continued by going 4-3 up early in the second half, but United continued to fight and were soon level through that man again. Seconds later and he was upended in the box but saw his spot kick very well saved. Rainworht then began to control the game and 2 goals gave them a 6-4 lead, but Beaufort weren't done yet and pulled one back. With a few minutes to go, Tigers made it 7-5 and this was how it ended.

It was a very good game to take charge of and at the end I thanked both managers for such a spectacle. The Beaufort manager thanked me for such a good game myself, mentioning the poor call that led to Rainworth's first but otherwise saying I had done very well, so that was pleasing to hear.

I was supposed to be following this game up with an Under 16's tie between Forest Town Pumas and Ripley Town Colts but neither side had made contact and so I had the afternoon free.