Biggest game to date

As the end of the season draws ever closer, the games are starting to get bigger and more important, for most sides anyway. I've already learned that I shall be officiating in 3 cup finals near the end of the season, which is great news - more info on that to follow.

Today, I faced my biggest game to date. An U15 Cup semi-final between Robin Hood Colts and Arnold Town Maroon. I should have had 2 assistants in this game but when I made it to the ground I heard that one had already called in sick so arrangements were made for a representative from each side to take a half each. There were only 5 minutes remaining before kick off when the other assistant arrived, otherwise I was on my own.

Before the game got underway, I was asked to lead the sides out of the changing rooms and onto the pitch and for them to then do the respect handshakes. I had heard earlier in the season that the handshakes should be taking place on a weekly basis anyway but I'd not seen it put into place all year, my bad?

Following this the game got under way and it was Robin Hood that started the brighter. This was a team I was familiar with as it was the third time this season I had taken charge of one of their games. Arnold though were apparently the favourites and began to take control of the game, going ahead in one of their first attacks on the quarter of an hour mark. Robin Hood though to their credit didn't let their heads go down and equalised merely 2 minutes later.

It was a very well contested first half and at the break the score remained 1-1. I was pleased at just how well the half had ran, with no incident of note to mention, especially as in previous games with the home side, there have been plenty of moaning and appeals from both those on the pitch and those off it, but today everyone seemed fully focused on the game.

I was advised at half time by one of the home representatives to just keep an eye out for Arnold playing a little rougher as they were known for it apparently but there'd been no sign of this in the first half. The away side started the second half brighter and midway through the half took the lead with a well worked goal down the right side. When the players had returned to their own half, I was alerted to a man down in the box. It was a home defender who appeared to have taken a blow to the knee and was in some pain, and I had my ear chewed off by a Robin Hood coach who said that I had missed something. The thing was, all the play had come down the right side, there was nothing or at least very little happening on the left or even in the centre so how this p[layer had took a knock on the far left side of the 6 yard box was beyond me.

Moments later and a free kick was floated into the box by Arnold and at first the keeper looked like he was comfortable but he spilled it, much to the delight of the unrushing Arnold forwards who had the simplest of tasks of putting the rebound past him. Once again, following the return of the Arnold players to their own half and the keeper had stayed down and was upset. Again the same Robin Hood official barracked me for missing a 'clear' kick as the ball was put in but this time I made a point of saying that I was just yards from the play and there was no contact from the moment the ball was hit into the box to after it had gone in. The keeper had simply spilled it and couldn't recover. Even after the goal he was fine just disappointed that the goal came from his error, so it just looked like dirty tactics to me.

The remainder of the game went by pretty quickly and certainly without further incident and at the full time whistle, the Arnold players celebrated their progression to the final. I was then apprached by someone from the Notts FA and thought I had been observed at first until he simply informed me he was acting on behalf of a Charter Standard awarders and asked for my opinion on how each side had conducted themselves today. I said both had been great and there were no issues or concerns to which he thanked me and we both made our way from the ground.

I had to move pretty sharpish as I had 45 minutes to get to Notts for a game I was doing as a favour. I should have been taking another semi final in Ollerton for their U17's side but had only been contacted on the eve of the game and a clash in kick off times meant I could only do the first. I then sped to the venue of the Goose Fair for a Midlands Amatuer Alliance game between Cambridge Knights (of Nottingham!) and Selston.

This game was played in very high spirits and on a great day in the sun. It was clear from the off that Cambridge weren;t the greatest side in the world, with an ageing back line and, for want of a better word, a chunky lone striker! Selston were full of fairly talented young adults and they controlled the game from start to finish.

However, chances on the day were few and far between and surprisingly the game ended just 1-0 to Selston, with the goal coming in the closing minutes of the first half. How the scores were level for so long was beyond me but the Knights had battled hard and defended quite well but offered little going forward.

I had almost no decisions to make throughout the game and simply strolled around the pitch at my leisure. In fact the quickest I moved was the second I blew for full time as I made it to my car in record time to move it from the clutches of a traffic warden, who had been sniffing around it about half an hour earlier! I was in a rush finding the pitch and had just parked at the side of a main road, but other cars were there too, it there were no markings and I saw no signs. Still, luckily I got there in time!

Headstocks Victory

For the third time in 4 weeks I officiated in another Headstocks win where goals were at the plenty. It took some doing at first though as Arnold Victory were a well organised side who created plenty of chances of their own. Headstocks had missed a couple of their own before taking the lead half way through the opening half.

They were 2 up soon after before Arnold pulled one back. 3-1 was the half time score. In the second half Headstocks ran riot with 3 further goals to finish 6-1 up and although they deserved the win overall, 6-1 was probably a bit harsh on Arnold who had worked hard.

I had to caution a Headstocks player for a late tackle that the Arnold captain certainly felt on the ankle, and there was a late scuffle in one corner that I had to deal with but decided not to caution anyone as it was handbags really.

2 at Underwood

I was down for 3 games at Underwood but the times meant that I had to give one up as I can't split myself in half! The one I ended up not doing was only as assistant in an Under 9's cup semi final, which is still played at 7 aside with no offside so it's not as though 2 assistants were crucial!

The first match was an U14's league game between Underwood and Robin Hood Colts. It was a great game to officiate, with not too much to do. It was quite end to end stuff with chances at both ends. There was an early caution for a Robin Hood forward who was putting his weight about early on, firstly with a slightly late slide on the goalkeeper which I let go with a warning, and then another on a defender which brought out the yellow.

Underwood were playing well and deservingly led at half time through a penalty given when a well struck shot was sent wide of the target by the arm of a defender. The Robin Hood manager had a word with me at half time, claiming to have heard taunts from the touchline aimed at winding his cautioned striker up. I'd not heard these but had a word with the Underwood manager as a precaution.

The second half brought not much change with Underwood playing some slick football and Robin Hood left to rely on long balls for their striker to deal with. Underwood went 2-0 up with 20 minutes to play and a late rally from Robin Hood left for a tense finish when a cross-come-shot by the Robin Hood target man looped over the keeper for 2-1. Villa held on though for the 3 points.

Slight confusion followed this game when another official turned up and was under the impression he was taking the next game on this pitch but I knew I was doing back to back games. It was resolved though when the Underwood U13's manager asked for me as it was I that he had spoken to earlier in the week and it turned out that the other official was the second assistant for the U9's game I couldn't do.

The next game was the U13's league tie between Underwood and Blackwell. I had last seen Blackwell when they were well beaten in a cup game at Forest Town but this was a more fairer battle, and one that they prevailed in.

Another tough battle with first Underwood starting strong and then Blackwell controlling for periods before my second penalty award of the day came as Underwood's forward was brought down clinically in the box and amid claims it was outside the box, I had absolutely no doubts it was inside, and really I should be thanked for being lenient as not to have shown a card when another referee would.

The oenalty was saved though and the rebound was gathered also by the keeper and this led to a huge lift in Blackwell's game. It was still 0-0 at half time but by this time Blackwell were having more than their fare share of posession which continued into the second half.

Underwood were now having to play on the break but were still creating chances. As the game got later, it looked like a 0-0 was well on the cards but at the death from a corner, which sailed straight into the goal. Blackwell celebrated as if it was a league winner, though for all I know it could well have been!

Moments later I blew for full time and both managers thanked me for a good game. I am pleased that my own good form continues but it hels when the games are played as fairly as they have been as of late.

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.