Game 5

This was the last of my scheduled midweek fixtures and featured a local team recently relegated from their Supply League. The visitors were another team local to where I live and I've refereed them regularly over the last few years, most noticeably just before Christmas 2007.

The away team were delayed by traffic problems on the M62 but we got away pretty much on time. The game was relatively easy to manage and the recent heavy rain meant the ball was flashing across the greasy surface with a lot of speed. Well it would it either team had played the ball along the ground. They only seemed interested in kicking it up in the air and either heading it or running after it. The skill factor seemed to be non-existent.

A long ball played to the left wing saw a home player chasing it but not before he was wiped out by the opposition centre half. The away team had taken a comfortable 2-0 lead at this stage and the game seemed to be grinding towards a conclusion. Half time saw the home team come back out with more purpose and despite conceding a 3rd goal, they fought back and scored a goal of their own.

Then we had the incident that changed the mood of the game. A challenge by the player already cautioned, saw him commit another cautionable offence and he became the second player to be dismissed in 5 days in one of my games. Shortly afterwards I awarded a penalty to the home team and the goalkeeper protested too much and collected a caution for dissent. The penalty was scored to make it 2-3 but the away team scored almost immediately to restore their 2 goal advantage.

Another late goal for the home team saw a frantic last few minutes but the away team ran out worthy winners in the end. Calories 1538, max hr 91%, average 76%