Game 17

Picking myself up from the disappointment of last night wasn't too hard and I set off early for my trip to Halifax for the 1st round of the County FA Challenge Cup.

I had refereed at the same ground in the 2nd round last season and remember being very dissatisfied with my performance (reading back on the match report I had suffered from a virus during the week before the game). The clubs must have felt the same and that, coupled with my match report disappearing into the e-mail system probably contributed to my not being appointed to any further games from the County FA during the rest of the season.

I was determined not to make the same mistakes again and despite the foul weather I arrived in good time, got ready and headed out for an elongated warm-up. I noted the surface was greasy, wet and covered in freshly mown grass - surely a fast game was in prospect. Well the weather had other ideas and the strong wind seemed to constantly change direction making it difficult for the players (and me!) to read play.

Eventually the home team scored and went 3-0 up with only 30 minutes played. I had also disallowed a goal for offside and the away team, already struggling without any substitutes were suffering from a few knocks. One of these "knocks" came from a foul challenge and when I pulled the player out for a chat, he must have expected a caution. Instead I decided to exercise some "management" in my match control and it worked. I had two or three more similar situations in the game and all turned out well for me.

The away team scored what turned out to be their only goal to make it 3-1 at half time. The level of respect and response form both teams was absolutely unparalleled in any of the previous 350 or so games I had previously been involved in. Shortly after the start of the second half I awarded the most obvious kick from the penalty mark ever as two defenders made two of those ridiculous 5 a side sweeping reverse challenges.

I then had to deal with something which has only happened twice in 10 years of refereeing. The away team had a goal kick and it was played out towards the corner of the penalty area. As an attacker ran towards the ball, a defender also ran towards it, into the penalty area and then turned to kick the ball upfield ... it hadn't left the penalty area directly and therefore wasn't in play. It was time for a re-take.

The home team added another 4 goals without reply after that and the final scored was 8-1. In between times I had to manage a player who believed he had been the subject of a "two footed challenge", another who had wrecked his knee in the first half in making a brave challenge and the acrobatics of the home goalkeeper.

Back at their pub, I was happy to get some warm food inside me and then head on home.

Calories 1344, max hr 87%, average 71%