Game 75

After Tuesday's game from hell the last thing I needed was to see one of those teams any time soon. Unfortunately for me the "away" team were one of the teams playing in this morning's Sunday League Cup Final.

The second last thing I needed was the players/supporters of the home team from last Tuesday, behind me and giving me gip. Again, unfortunately for me, that's what I faced this morning. My reaction was to laugh everything off. I laughed at the suggestions that I drank in the 2nd named team's pub (thanks Elliott) and the constant commentary on every decision I chose to make or indeed chose not to make.

So to the game ... well it didn't take long for Gary the referee to make his mark and he maintained the same standard throughout the game. He used a high degree of control without strangling the game as I had on Tuesday. He never issued a single card but I suspect he may have done had this been a league game.

The "home" team scored with a fantastic lob from the club Secretary and added a second with a slightly deflected shot just before half time. At half time, Gary told us to raise our game in case the "away" team decided to try to kick their way back into the game. When the "home" team added a third goal 5 minutes into the 2nd half the game was slipping away from the "away" team and their reaction said a lot about their discipline, just as it had on Tuesday.

The game continued on with a 4th goal and a consolation being added late but little real resistance being offered. Special mention must be made of Bernie's ballboy act close to the end of the game, Kappy's air shot and Gary's exhausted request to completed a substitution from the corner flag.

In the end I had a great morning, spending most of my time knowing that my experience would not allow me to f*ck up and that I couldn't let Gary down. We finished at 4-1, no cautions (but there could have been a few) and a more than 1360 calories burned. Av hr 76%, max around 96%.

Season over, job done, time for a rest.

I'm taking 2 weeks off, then back in training, only to be interrupted by a 2 week holiday in Crete, when I will run to keep the momentum going. After that, it's solid training until the annual International Youth Tournament I have helped with for the last 6 seasons.

Thanks to everyone who has supported me, cajoled me and castigated me this season. I am a better referee for it.