I was promoted to level 6 last March and I have done a couple of games in divisions that I now qualify for. The first one was fine, but I was surprised by the increase in technical ability and speed of the game.
The second was last Saturday. Local 'derby'.
Firstly the game started 15 minutes late as the home team shirts were in the managers's car who had gone off to pick up a couple of players.
I briefed the AR's, both of whome had agreed to do the whole game, no substitutes doing it. Good. However as part of my brief, it became clear that the home AR was not quite the 'full ticket', but I felt that he deserves the benefit of the doubt, especially as there was no-one else to do it.
Game starts, a good evenly contested game; home blue number 10 is giving me a lot of grief, and after one final warning, yellow card (C2).
20th minute, red break away, a bit of ping-pong in the box, I am up by the edge of the penalty area, red score. I look at the AR who is standing there with no flag. "Offside, offside" scream the blue team. AR raises his flag. I go and talk to him and it is clear that he has no idea what has happened. I give a goal as I could see no offside, all hell breaks loose and match control has gone.
27th minute blue 10 knocks a red player to the ground as the red player is running past him. Clear VC and he's off he goes, with a few expleetives that I pass on for the moment (cue Padfoot). He goes to the side of the FOP and I go over and respectfully tell him to leave the vicinity of the FOP. He refuses, but after several "f**k off, ref"'s, I inform him and his manager that I will be submitting a misconduct report as well. He goes off to the changing rooms.
Game gets to half-time with a couple of C1's for the blue team. At the start of the second half, the blue 10 who I had binned has returned to the FOP. I go over and tell him to leave, more "f**k off, ref"'s, and a blue supporter coming the old "it's a public place, ref". I tell the manager that I will abandon in 30 seconds time unless he goes, which he does.
I give two stonewall penalties, the red team accept theirs with good grace, the blue team go mad.
Start of the second half, one more C2 for the blue keeper for chat.
3 more C1's for the blue team, the red team are superbly behaved, keep their discipline and win 5-4.
At the end of the game, blue manager tells me that I spoilt a good game of football!! The final count is 3 x C1, 2 x C2, 1 x S2, 1 x misconduct, all for the same team!! I drive away wondering if all this grief is really worth it and if I am up to doing the next level up. Do all the paperwork ok.
Following morning, I feel much better about it all and looking forward to the next game. I reflect on what I did well, and the best thing was being 'brave' with the cards, and keeping calm. What do I do poorly? Maybe I missed some stuff the red team got away with as the blue manager said that the red team are well known for being 'cynical'.
On to the next game, I suppose, but I don't want too many of these.
