Game last night, u18s, absolutely tipping it down throughout, tough conditions for everyone, particularly the players as the ground was still firm underneath.
1-0 to the blues with 2 minutes to go, not heard a single word of dissent, no bad tackles, no need for a word with anyone never mind a card, perfect conduct from the coaches etc.
Orange long ball, blues back line play the offside trap as they'd done to great effect all game but on this occasion the full back stays in and is level with the orange attacker, who rounds the goalkeeper and makes it 1-1, 30 seconds to go. No dissent, even an admission from the defender that he played the striker on, remarkable!
From the kick off, a few passes are played , the striker turns, goes past the defender, rounds the keeper and scores from the tightest of angles. We kick off and the full time whistle is blown. Handshakes all round, all players, coaches etc say what a good gsme it was and praise my performance (it was the easiest game to referee I've ever been involved in and I've been involved in football for 30 years).
It struck me how rare it is to have two teams who accepted all the decisions and never entered into any dissent (this is under 18 football as well!). Faith in football restored, it even made me feel guilty about my own conduct towards officials and opposition players from my playing days. Refereeing utopia.....it was all incredibly odd and I'm not sure I liked it!
1-0 to the blues with 2 minutes to go, not heard a single word of dissent, no bad tackles, no need for a word with anyone never mind a card, perfect conduct from the coaches etc.
Orange long ball, blues back line play the offside trap as they'd done to great effect all game but on this occasion the full back stays in and is level with the orange attacker, who rounds the goalkeeper and makes it 1-1, 30 seconds to go. No dissent, even an admission from the defender that he played the striker on, remarkable!
From the kick off, a few passes are played , the striker turns, goes past the defender, rounds the keeper and scores from the tightest of angles. We kick off and the full time whistle is blown. Handshakes all round, all players, coaches etc say what a good gsme it was and praise my performance (it was the easiest game to referee I've ever been involved in and I've been involved in football for 30 years).
It struck me how rare it is to have two teams who accepted all the decisions and never entered into any dissent (this is under 18 football as well!). Faith in football restored, it even made me feel guilty about my own conduct towards officials and opposition players from my playing days. Refereeing utopia.....it was all incredibly odd and I'm not sure I liked it!
