Game 21

I honestly can't remember enjoying refereeing a game as much as this one today. It seemed that the little changes I introduced made so much difference to the run of the game, player interaction and player behaviour.

I arrived early and met the secretary who was heading off with his 1st team to their game some 15 miles away, leaving me in the capable hands of his assistant. I was sharing a changing room with a rugby league referee, who I didn't get to meet before the game but had a brief chat with afterwards.

This was an unusual coincidence as I had actually spent two of my most memorable afternoons while playing rugby league at this shared venue more than 23 years ago. Another coincidence was that the away rugby team was the team that my son played rugby for around 7 years ago. On to today's game ...

The home team took kick off and within 90 seconds they had taken the lead from a sweeping move finished off by their lively forward. I had a choice on whether to issue a caution on a challenge after 10 minutes but chose to try to manage the situation. Even thought the challenge had taken place in front of the technical area, I got no complaint from either the players or the management.

The equaliser came a few minutes later and with the overcast sky beginning to pour down much needed rain, the surface began to cut up. This led to scrappy play, mistimed challenges and misplaced passes from both teams. The away team stole into the lead after a free kick was saved by the goalkeeper but his parry fell straight on to the boot of a forward who had followed the ball in and his volley went right into the middle of the goal.

The home team reacted strongly exerting pressure on the away goal, forcing a succession of corner kicks. On one of these kicks I stood at the far post, taking up a new viewing position. I couldn't have been better placed to adjudge that a powerful goalbound header hadn't crossed the goal line. The pressure eventually paid off as they scored with 5 minutes left in the first half and that took the scores to 2-2.

The second half started brightly, not just because the heavy driving rain had given way to bright sunshine and a strengthening breeze. Neither team was able to make much progress and the field was still cutting up. Another couple of players made challenges I chose to manage rather than caution and when I involved the captains in the dressing down I issued to the offenders, they seemed to support my stance.

After 20 minutes of the second half a high ball was played forward and none of the defending team dealt with the danger. A whipped cross saw the home centre forward challenge a defender and the goalkeeper for the ball and his header beat them both, re-establishing his team's lead. Both teams used their complement of substitutes and this understandably changed the whole pattern of the game.

The home team suddenly had more penetration, more scope and more opportunities but against the run of play, with only 3 minutes of normal time left, the away team carved an opportunity. The ball dropped to their midfield general, a player who I sent off around 4 years ago and he hit a curling drive which sneaked between the goalkeeper and the goalpost ... 3-3!

I still had 3 minutes of normal and 5 of added time to play and at first neither team seemed to want to press forward to score a winner, for fear of being exposed in defence and conceding a goal. Then a long ball forward was sent looping into the away team penalty area, the goalkeeper called to say he would collect the ball, but it evaded his flailing punch and dropped to an attacker behind him. The goalkeeper had come a long way to collect the ball as it flew through the air and passed at least two other defenders, so there was no question of offside.

The whole field seemed to stand still for a split second and the attacker then played the ball up into the roof of the net. The goalkeeper was inconsolable as his team had lost through his error. I checked my watch and saw I still had 1 minute of added time to play. Despite their best efforts, the away team couldn't find an opening and the game finished 4-3. I had a lot of handshakes immediately after the final whistle. One of those who came to see me was the away team goalkeeper and I offered a few words of consolation but I could tell he was bitterly upset.

Just before I left the clubhouse a hand tapped me on the shoulder. It was the goalkeeper now looking slightly less distraught. He shook my hand with a wry smile, thanked me for my participation and wished me well. I was touched.
Calories 1723, average hr 80%, max 94%