Evening game

I did a game in Surrey Hants Border League yesterday evening. Generally I felt it was an improvement on my last game. My positioning was better, not so on top of the ball. Also felt I used the captains more effectively. The away team had a fast forward who was annoying the opposing centre backs. Just before half time there was an incident near the touch line for which I gave a free kick. After a home defender claimed the forward had spat at him. If he did, and I had seen that, it would have been straight red.

In the second half the home defenders were trying to get their retribution, diving in a bit and I asked the captain to have a word, which he did and things did calm down.

I had a controversial incident with the score at 1-0 to home team when I over ruled a club linesman flagging for offside against the away team and called out "play on, play on" as I felt I had a better view. The defenders hesitated and the attacking team scored to make it 2-0. Even though I think I made the right decision on the offside, I did not want to affect the game like that and it did make me feel a bit flat.

There were loud protests of course and soon after I blew for a free kick for the away team but they wanted to play advantage and the away manager shouted "you're ruining the game". I did not speak to him, where perhaps I should have but I did not hear from him again - guess he just calmed down. I know these comments need to be ignored, and there were plenty of positive comments too at the end.

The away team scored again from a free kick and it ended 3-0. I picked up a blister on my toe wearing studs on a very hard pitch.