Game 42

Yesterday's game was a changed fixture as the home team became the away team with a change of opponents as their originals were involved in County Cup action. The backlog created by the postponement of fixtures because of the weather recently has left one local side with outstanding ties in three different competitions.

Today's game was also a switch. I was supposed to be looking after a Sunday League quarter final between two First Division sides but was moved to another game as the new home team had some discipline issues. As things turned out the only people who gave me trouble were the away team.

The game kicked off late because I didn't have a home teamsheet. Once things were sorted, we got underway and I had controversy almost immediately. The away team launched a counter attack through the heavy mud on the field and on beating the goal keeper, their centre forward continued running on towards goal and passed to a team mate who was in an offside position. I blew the whistle and awarded the free kick for the offence to the home side. Meanwhile I heard a long stream of comments coming from one person on the touchline.

As I made my way across he began to apologise for his comments, it was too late however. He was identified as a named substitute and became the first player I have ever cautioned, who wasn't on the field of play. The home team scored a nicely worked goal and the protests of one away player saw him cautioned. A reckless challenge a few minutes later saw his team receive the game's third caution. Another few minutes and another caution for a needless trip. Two goals in a minute for the home team looked to have finished this game as a contest. Even an away goal with 10 minutes left in the first half provided little comfort and a fourth goal on the stroke of half time for the home team made it look all so easy.

As the second half started, so did the fun and games. I saw a player on his knees in the home team's penalty area and when he stood up, he was holding his hand as if in pain. He seemed to be moving about ok and play switched to the other end of the field so I went with it. I then saw him asking to come back on and realised that he'd wandered off, so I had to caution him. Another case of dissent shortly afterwards saw another player receive a second caution but he was very annoyed and it took some work to calm things down and get the game back on.

That, after 50 minutes, was just about it. Neither team could move the ball around in the mud and more than once I was reminded of the old footage of football being played at the Baseball Ground (Derby County's home before Pride Park) when Brian Clough, their manager, used to order the heavy watering of the field before every game. Many descended into mudbaths and challenges were occasionally bone shattering in their ferocity!

Back to today though and with both sides tiring, the away team added a second goal to take the score to 4-2. They also changed their goalkeeper, allowing him time to play in an outfield position. Not an entirely wise choice as he collected his side's 5th caution (not including the double which led to the dismissal). The home team picked one up as well for delaying a restart. So I finished up with 6 cautions and a dismissal from a mudbath. Calories a paltry 1144, max hr 86%, average 67% - I moved as slowly as the ball in those muddy conditions!