Game 13

I really enjoyed this morning's game and it reflected the good start to the day when I weighed in at around 15st (95Kg).I haven't weighed that much since finishing playing rugby back in 1986!

The night had finished late (around 3:30 a.m.) as my wife came home from a night out with her friends and her tales of the night out and demands for drinks of water broke up whatever sleep time I had remaining. I still was pretty refreshed on leaving the house around 9:30. I had planned to go to the ground changed into my kit but decided to go suited and booted which turned out to be a good choice. My phone rang a few minutes after setting off and I was old that the game venue had been switched!

The game kicked off on time, despite the home manager's worry that he wouldn't have enough players to put the nets up. The game was played at a high tempo throughout the early stages even though it was quite warm and it was no surprise when players began grabbing drinks from the touchline.

The home team had the upper hand in the early exchanges and their 10th minute goal seemed like just reward for their efforts. When they added a second after 20 minutes, the away team seemed deflated and took almost until half time to strike back and reduced the deficit to 2-1.

The second half was only a few minutes old when we had a quick exchange of goals. Firstly the away team drew level after I played yet another good advantage. That os four this season which have resulted in a goal within 2-3 passes of my call. Then with the first true flash of brilliance, the home team re-established their lead. A free kick was awarded to the home team 22 yards out in a central position. The ball was lifted over the wall, on to the left hand post and from there it bobbled into the goal. Frustration got the better of one away player and he collected the game's first caution only a minute later.

The game was compressed and I had a number of calls for offside which I didn't give. This led to some frustrated shouts from the players and a few nervous glances across back lines as well. The game was finely poised with a little under 10 minutes left to play when a defender under pressure played the ball through to an attacker in an offside position. I had no question of calling him offside as the defender clearly kicked the ball to him. He drew the defenders around him, chose his spot and slotted the ball into the goal.

Now if he had left it at that, then I would have come away from this game without a single complaint BUT ... he turned his shirt over his head (LotG mandatory caution) and when I cautioned him, I got non-stop "rubbish" from the home captain. Fortunately we finished soon afterwards with the home team winning 4-2.

Calories 1471, max hr 90%, average 75%.

I went to watch Fat Lad in the afternoon on the FAWPL Northern Division and he gave some good support to the referee ... apart from dropping his flag when changing hands one time (lol!)