Game 35

Sometimes it takes just one game to restore your faith in football and today was that game.

The home team with only one win in six games to their name and the away team second in the table. The away team also knocked a team two divisions above them out of the Cup a few weeks ago. This could only go one way, couldn't it?

The game started off loudly with both teams appealing for decisions all over the park and both touchlines adding their own contribution. It only took a few minutes for me to make use of the trailing eye to catch a bad foul and suddenly, the fat lad in the black uniform started getting some credit and respect. A few close offside calls a few minutes later and this game was firmly under my control.

It was an interesting game played on a very uneven, small field and the consistency of the surface varied from firm to very soft in parts. It made for some challenging bounces of the ball and a difficult running surface. Nevertheless the game went well with the away team taking a lead after about 25 minutes. Two players, as if to emphasise the small field collided with me. The first left my head spinning for a second and the other complained, with a big grin on his face, that I was trying to take him out! One player didn't cope with the surface too well and went down clutching his calf with 7 minutes left of the first half. I had some sympathy as my own calves were feeling tight as well (yes it was a good Christmas!).

The game seemed evenly balanced and when the home team equalised after two minutes of the second half, I knew this was going to be tight to the end. A nasty lunging challenge saw the game's first caution and when the offender's team mate decided to complain from around 30 yards, he collected the second caution, both in the 65th minute. A few minutes later a run from the left winger for the home team saw him cut inside and fire through the despairing hands of the away goalkeeper.

The away team, by this time playing downhill and having made all three of their substitutes, battered the home goal. Bodies were thrown in front of the ball, desperate finger tips saves were made by the goalkeeper and the score stayed at 2-1. I got into a poor position and my view of a challenge was obscured and of course, the attacker for the away side crumbled and fell inside the penalty area. I hadn't seen the contact clearly and gave nothing but when the same two players came together 2 minutes later a kick from the penalty mark was awarded as the defender stretched to try to tackle the attacker but only succeeded in sweeping both of his legs away.

The kick was saved and as the rebound fell to another attacker, the player who had given the kick away, made another desperate challenge, this time dispossessing two attackers with one motion. As the game entered the later stages the tension was building but there was still plenty of time for good humour between the players, the club officials and your truly.

Sometimes in football you don't see a situation for one or two seasons and then two crop up in a short space of time. As had happened just before Christmas a player from the team who were winning, delayed the restart of play at a throw in and he collected a caution for it, his team's third. He then went on a mazy run inside the opposition penalty area before shooting high into the roof of the net to seal a very good 3-1 win. I blew the final whistle just after kick off and trudged off for a well earned hot shower. 1542 calories burned, 93% max with a 79% average and lots of fun. Roll on tomorrow!