Phew!

Tonight's trials game between two U21 sides made up of the best young players in the County pushed me right to my limits tonight.

With Johnno on one line and Fat Lad on the other I had plenty of support. The players were extremely well behaved and as predicted before the game I think I only gave a dozen free kicks. One of those was for a handball in the penalty area but the kick from the mark was saved and the rebound headed over the cross bar.

We had a fast start and I knew I was going to have a problem when the away team scored a goal within 100 seconds and a home player raked his heel down my right shin. It was my own fault as I got too close to play and he stepped back and down my leg.

I soldiered on but the pain was intense for a few minutes and it was only when we got inside after the first third, that I could check the damage. We played three thirds each of 30 minutes. I had planned to let the two lads do a third each but they turned the opportunity down. I took the chance to run myself into the ground!

The players mainly looked after themselves, we had a few offsides to adjudge and I only had to have a serious chat with one player. The game was fast and furious and the boys gave me some good advice on positioning. We finished at 1-1 after an equaliser in the second third. Calories 1730 (wow!), average hr 83%, max 117% (think it was on one of the early sprints!!!).