Game 72

Sometimes I find myself questioning my own decisions, which although correct in law, seem harsh when applied.

Tonight a rasping snapshot from 30 yards was, in my opinion, deliberately parried by the home goalkeeper. He had the opportunity to either catch the ball or to push it over the crossbar but instead he used both hands to cushion the ball and then push it to one side. As he followed the ball away to the left hand edge of the penalty area, the attacking players moved back downfield. He dribbled the ball into a central position and as one of the attackers turned back towards him, he bent down and picked up the ball with the intention of kicking it downfield.

Now my gut instinct told me he had committed an offence so I stopped play and asked the goal keeper to give the ball to me. As I did so, my grey cells kicked in and it was clearly a case of the goalkeeper handling the ball after he had released it from his possession. The attacking and defending players (some of whom looked a little perplexed) asked me what had happened. I explained and the attackers asked to take their free kick. I gave a signal that the kick could be taken, the ball was played sideways and then fired through the haphazard defenders and into the goal. I felt rotten!

The game flowed and ebbed without much goal threat. Both teams had started with fewer than 11 players as some from the away team had become lost (as I had many months ago when I first visited this ground). One of the home players had unsafe footwear and his captain asked that we kick off and let him join the game later. We did so and within 2 minutes he entered the fop with my permission. Some of the missing away players arrived and also joined in.

The first half finished at 1-0 to the away team and the game finished 3-0 to them as well. In the second half the home team fought a rear guard action to no avail. I only had to speak to a couple of players throughout the whole game and for the second evening in succession, I issued no cautions.

1084 calories burned, average hr 72%, max 90%. Not too hard to stay in control and I definitely ran harder in the second half. Now looking forward to my first final of the season when the District Sunday Final is played. Andy (Sandy) is in the middle and Shak on the opposite touchline. It should be a good 'un.

District Saturday Final to watch tomorrow first though!