I was at a youth cup final day not long ago...I had turned up during the second half of a game to get ready for my own that afternoon. I knew the team officiating. I stood behind the barriers and waited for play to be up the other side of the field before asking "Wilfed" the score and time. "It's 1-0 to reds mate, 20 played. They scored in the first few minutes". 20 played, I'm ready to go so I stay and wait for the pitch to become free for my final.
So, I'm watching the game and I'm thinking to myself how dominant the reds are and questioning how it's just the one goal that's been scored. The referee is very experienced and has been reffing since before I was born, level 5. He's a mentor, assessor, tutor etc etc... He does everything down here.
Anyway, I'm watching on, admiring the football that the Reds are playing. I look at my watch and think "crikey, there can't be long left. Hold on here lads". They were always going to hold on. They were dominating.
A few more minutes had passed. I see the referee discreetly signal 2 to the assistant.. A few minutes pass... Nothing... A few more minutes... Nothing... "Wilfred, how long's that mate?" "42 pal".... The bench are shouting, the crowd (approx 80-100) are shouting, they know this game should be finished. Wilfed gives me that look as if to say "I have no idea why he hasnt blown)
As he replies, final touch of the game... Mauve team scores!!!! Queue the uproar!
Anyway, cutting the story short... Mauve team go on to win the penalty shoot out; that's not before the referee makes a howler... He blows for full time.. Only 8 penalties taken... Reds go off celebrating (mauve missed).... I look towards Wilfred (I'm stood wayyyyy behind the goal, gathering any loose balls), I show him 8 fingers with a puzzled look. He attempts to alert the ref but the Mauve manager has done so already... Celebrations are halted by the whistle and the players return to the centre circle. Shootout resumes, red misses and mauve win the cup.
It was really hard for me not to say anything to this referee, Wilfred is a good friend of mine "DB, I have no idea where he got 7 minutes from"... Neither do I!!! I really can't help but feel for the red team, they were robbed of a well deserved victory.
So, I'm watching the game and I'm thinking to myself how dominant the reds are and questioning how it's just the one goal that's been scored. The referee is very experienced and has been reffing since before I was born, level 5. He's a mentor, assessor, tutor etc etc... He does everything down here.
Anyway, I'm watching on, admiring the football that the Reds are playing. I look at my watch and think "crikey, there can't be long left. Hold on here lads". They were always going to hold on. They were dominating.
A few more minutes had passed. I see the referee discreetly signal 2 to the assistant.. A few minutes pass... Nothing... A few more minutes... Nothing... "Wilfred, how long's that mate?" "42 pal".... The bench are shouting, the crowd (approx 80-100) are shouting, they know this game should be finished. Wilfed gives me that look as if to say "I have no idea why he hasnt blown)
As he replies, final touch of the game... Mauve team scores!!!! Queue the uproar!
Anyway, cutting the story short... Mauve team go on to win the penalty shoot out; that's not before the referee makes a howler... He blows for full time.. Only 8 penalties taken... Reds go off celebrating (mauve missed).... I look towards Wilfred (I'm stood wayyyyy behind the goal, gathering any loose balls), I show him 8 fingers with a puzzled look. He attempts to alert the ref but the Mauve manager has done so already... Celebrations are halted by the whistle and the players return to the centre circle. Shootout resumes, red misses and mauve win the cup.
It was really hard for me not to say anything to this referee, Wilfred is a good friend of mine "DB, I have no idea where he got 7 minutes from"... Neither do I!!! I really can't help but feel for the red team, they were robbed of a well deserved victory.