Game 31

Apologies for the late report but I've been busy preparing for Sunday ...

With me on one line and Titfer on the other you would have thought that referee Carl had enough on his plate but as all three of us travelled north to the venue, our only concern was the fog which enveloped the motorway and surrounding countryside.

As we reached the major junction 7 miles north of my home suddenly the heavy, cold, and damp blanket gave way to bright sunshine. On reaching the field, one touchline was bathed in warmth and light, pure heaven. Our pre-match warm-up revealed a number of heavy soggy patches of the field but Carl decided they weren't enough to call the game off and we kicked off on time, after his usual laid back but in-depth pre-match chat.

Neither team have had good results recently and the away team were missing one of their usual combatants, a forthright full back who is the scourge of every referee in the league. We can do no right is his eyes, but it seems his club may have had enough as he has been demoted to the Reserves. I refereed the away team in the County Cup at the beginning of October in Game 16 and the captain on that day (and today) put in a captain's performance.

He scored at least one of the goals in the first half as his team went 3-0 up as they repeatedly broke through the opponents offside trap. When we turned around for the second half, he marshaled his defence well as they soaked up the home team's pressure. The home team scored a good goal and as it seemed they were going to press home their advantage a long ball to the right wing saw their winger run, shoot and score after evading a number of challenges ... 4-1.

A beautiful lob from 30 yards out was caught on camera by the local cameraman whose pictures often appear in the local Johnson Press publication. This took the score to 4-2 to the away team and Carl had issued a caution apiece as well. The game finished soon afterwards and it was a mad dash back to civilisation before the fog settled in again. Calories a measly 1285, hr max 86% and average 70% ... despite my best efforts at marking every goal kick to keep warm I still finished with black toes suffering from lack of circulation of blood!!!