The Referee

Im writing this post a week after the event.  I have just been away for the past week and it was a great break.  Exactly what was needed after 9 months of DIY and a crap year at work.   Only problem was I started with a cold but seemed to have shaken it before it really developed.

Last Saturday as you may remember it rained most of the day.  I had been contacted on the Thursday and asked if I could do a pitch inspection for Stapenhill if required.  League rules say it has to be an official on the league are the only ones allowed to do a pitch inspection.   While I can understand the rule it does cause problems as they have only 2 offiicals within 25 minutes or so of the ground and so I tend to do them for them.  

However just as I was leaving to do the inspection on Saturday morning, Coaville called asking if I was able to come across and check the pitch for my game today.  I explained it would be difficult and could they try and get someone else in, but if they couldn’t i would come across.   

I got to Stapenhill and the goal mouth and half way line were waterlogged and with the rain still coming there was no chance for this game today.   Driving back I thought how cold and wet it was and thought theres no chance of my game being on today.  So in my head started planning the afternoon.   I was going to go for a run, then help put the Christmas Tree up, then watch the liverpool game.  Sounded great! However my game passed its pitch inspection and rightly so, i was amazed how good the pitch was an it is full credit to Coaville and the effort they had spent on it over the years.  

 The game was a league cup game between Coaville and Cradley.   Cradley are currently bottom of the league and on their 4th manager this season and have had some very heavy defeats this season.   However whilst getting a cup of tea before the game I found they had appointed their new manager, who had brought in pretty much a new side in a week and so the unexpected was to be expected.

Coaville took a very early lead and I expected a lot more goals, however shortly afterwards Coaville scored an own goal from a corner to make the score 1-1.   Up front for Coaville they had this big strong striker and he was having a good old fashioned 9 on 5 with the Cradley defence.   He was happy for this for the first 30 minutes of the game until frustration that their possession wasnt getting goals and they wanted every free kick then.  

Ive got to be honest this was an ackward problem all game.   They were both holding one another and both wanting the free kick.   What I tended to do was leave the little tugs otherwise we would have been blowing up all game, and give the significant advantage gaining tugs.

The second half started and I expected Coaville to try to reassert themselves on the game.  This proved to be the case with them taking a 3-1 lead.        Also during the 2nd half I had a mexican stand off with one of my assistants.  We both went the opposite way on a throw in.   I had seen it come of the attacker and it was a Coaville throw.  My pre match is that if this happens, drop your flag and i will go the direction that is credible and correct.   So if its down in his 3rd chances are im going with him unless its blatant.  However this was bang on the half way line.   He stood for a good 10 seconds before eventually dropping his flag.

Cradley managed to pull one back and I had to have a chat with the goalkeeper who held on to the ball trying to kill time (why do this you “lose” seconds and it doesnt work!).  

With 10 minutes to go a Coaville player lost possession of the ball and went after trying to win the ball back.  However he attempted this with a 2 footed lunge taking the player around his calf.  Straight Red.    The player actually completed the game but having seen his leg afterwards it was a right mess.  

However the lead didnt last two long and in the last 5 minutes I awarded a penalty to Coaville which they scored to win the game 4-2.