Game 51

I swapped on to this game earlier in the week as I noted that the District semi-final on which I was assisting Marine Boy was at the same venue. It saved me travelling time and the club some expenses, so you'd have thought happy days all round. Maybe not ...

My day started soundly enough, unwrapping the new white shirt I intended to wear, along with my Umbro Wembley kit which was getting its first run-out and then disaster struck as I managed to hack my neck while shaving and was bleeding profusely (ok a little) from two cuts. Both had the potential to wreck a pristine white collar, so I hastily bundled my white shirt, suit, shoes and District FA tie into the car and dressed in my smart Nike top/tracksuit bottoms combo for my Sunday league game.

The away side arrived a little late and we kicked off more or less on time. I had completed my full warm up including all my shuttles, much to the amusement of both teams, but hey I wasn't risking a muscle pull. The game started quietly enough and I kept reminding myself not to get complacent, just in time for the away goalkeeper to make a mistake (just like yesterday afternoon's home goalkeeper) and the home team took a lead on 10 minutes. They doubled their lead within another 10 minutes and started to look comfortable. To be brutally honest both of their goals had come against the run of play and they had endured severe pressure almost from kick off.

The second half had two more incidents before I finished. The first was a clash between two combative midfielders. I had refereed one player a few times and knew he had a shortish fuse. The other was a new variable for me and from the verbal exchanges I overheard, he was the obvious aggressor. I hadn't seen any contact between the two, just a lot of posturing and "compliment" swapping. So I called both in, had some harsh words and got us going again.

Right on the stroke of half time a cross was played into the home team's penalty area. As the ball dropped the home centre half jumped and pushed an attacker in the back. I was less than 10 yards away and immediately awarded a kick from the penalty mark. The away team scored and I finished the half.

As the second half started the away team turned up their pressure an extra notch and by the hour mark they had not only equalised but taken a lead 3-2. A fourth goal for them less than 10 minutes later doubled their advantage. The circumstances however were anything but acceptable for the home side.

A low shot from left to right was pounced upon at the back post by an onrushing attacker whose shot went straight into the goal from my position. The defence were incensed and claimed that an attacker standing on the goal line, in an offside position had played the ball just before it entered the goal. I didn't see this player and even now, replaying the incident in my head I cannot picture him being there.

The home players surrounded me and tried to get me to change my mind about the goal, but I refused. One of those not pressurising me was the home goalkeeper. He had been having little digs about decisions all the way through the game, so when an hour had been played I spoke to him and his captain and said that I would not tolerate any more low level dissent. On the next decision against his team, he made another derogatory comment and collected the game's only caution.

The away team were now comfortable at 4-2 and they began playing a high line up the field squeezing the home team out of the game. They controlled the play extremely well and saw out the last 20 minutes without any issues. They actually added a 5th goal right at the death. I trooped off to the changing room with the home coach complaining and my sunburn (first of the new year) just beginning to prickle on my forehead. 1307 calories, 87% max, 73% average.