RateTheRef

East Hull v Harrogate Railway
NCEL
Referee: Dominic Hawkins (formerly of Belper)
(left after 86 min)

I was initially a tad confused. Upon first scanning I thought you meant the referee left after 86 minutes 

It looks likely that there will be no further chances to take in FA Cup ties this season, the next round coming once more  in midweek and with increasing numbers of matches behind closed doors.

Wrong again: this morning has been spent booking ticket, transport and accommodation for a tie on Tuesday!

Yesterday evening, however, was spent nearer home at

Tuesday 6th October 2020
NWCFL Division 1 N
Golcar United   0   v   2   Steeton
Lee Corns (Burnley?); David Cryer, Declan O'Regan.

Golcar have done an awful lot of work, both on the pitch, which last season was so poor that home matches had eventually to be played in Lancashire, and the facilities, opening a shiny new stand, not to mention improved toilet facilities.

Mr Corns is not in any danger of being mistaken for a spring chicken, but still has his own dark hair (well, most of it) and for someone in his mid forties, at a guess, is pretty sprightly. Mr O'Regan was young, tall and energetic and his strawberry blond coiffure positively glowed under the floodlights. Mr Cryer presented a puzzle. Some years ago at Chadderton, JCFC had seen a David Cryer on the line: was this the same person? The build was similar (achieving the difficult task of making JCFC appear almost slim) though perhaps a few pounds had been shed - and more surprisingly several years. This time, too, Mr Cryer took part in the warm-up. Could it be a case of father and son? Or does the Lancashire water possess rejuvenating powers?  It never had that effect on JCFC. Or was it just a coincidence?

There was little to trouble Mr Corns in the first half as he kept up a regular flow of chat, but otherwise did little to trouble the players in return. Golcar were on top, and the Steeton keeper twice did well within the twelfth minute. On the quarter hour, however, a long Steeton shot bounced off the post, and the rebound was knocked home by an attacker by way of the crossbar. Golcar continued to dominate both possession and territory but with not a lot to show for it. One appeal for a penalty lacked real conviction, and otherwise the Steeton defence stood firm. Their number 11 received a long "no more" lecture for his contribution to a sandwich and Golcar players became frustrated, and Mr Corns had to speak to a couple of them for dissent.

Golcar continued to press in the second half. On 51 minutes a strong shot drew a good save from the keeper. It was not long before the pressure told - a parry from the keeper, a scramble  - and the ball was finally chested into the net. The celebrations were well advanced before it was noticed that Mr Cryer had his flag held aloft; Mr Corns went to check and the verdict was offside. On went Golcar - but then came the sucker punch, with a rare Steeton attack producing a second goal. Despite a couple of further saves for the home keeper, Steeton were happy with what they had and Golcar frustrated as a result, leading to some bad temper, much silliness and a number of cautions, with two going to Steeton and one to Golcar. On 75 minutes a rash challenge on the Steeton keeper produced a brawl, as these things do, with Mr Corns whistling profusely. It must be said that, as brawls go, JCFC has seen much more impressive ones. When things eventually calmed down, Mr Corns consulted Mr Cryer at some length before calling the Golcar number 2 to receive a yellow card. He then looked for the Golcar number 11, who was some way off and seemed surprised to be summoned. As he reached Mr Corns, Mr Cryer raced back on - and it was the Steeton number 11 who was brought forward for a yellow. Mr Corns eventually played over 6 minutes of added time, meaning that JCFC had to make a sharp exit to catch the bus, so cannot give a verdict on the Steeton twitter comment "The referee has blown for full time, but it's blown up in another way too." Golcar had looked the stronger side, but had not been able to take the chances that did come their way, while Steeton's defence - especially their keeper - had withstood the pressure manfully and it is hard to begrudge them their win.

For three quarters of the match, things had looked very comfortable for Mr Corns, but the closing stages became rather messy. Overall a decent performance, though a little of the gloss disappeared in the closing stages.


Google, incidentally, threw up a small and not particularly clear photo of a team containing a Lee Corns and a Chad Mayoh (not to mention a Duncan Bennett.) As Chad is not a common name, it prompts the question whether that was the Chad Mayoh that JCFC knew and was it the same Lee Corns?

A most impressive effort to have been able to take in six FA Cup matches already this season.

  No pressure then...

Someone's quick on the uptake!

I could see your 'in the vicinity' location last night. 

If Friday's match had been a rather dull affair, Saturday's was to prove anything but. Used to the sensible Northern habit of putting the railway station in the centre of the town, JCFC nevertheless enjoyed the walk into the town and out the other side (less so on the return when rain started) that led to

Episode 3
Saturday 10th October 2020
FA Vase 2nd Qualifying Round
Fleet Town   3   v   1   Shrivenham
Dani Mansour (Middlesex); Jason Smith, Richard Rimmington.

It was to be hoped that Mr Mansour would prove nicer and less ferocious than his copious beard made him appear - and so it proved, with plenty of praise and lots of smiles. He earned a Brownie point for long sleeves, or rather half a point as they disappeared at half-time. Sadly, his badge did not proclaim his County affiliation. On the badge front, Mr Smith had a very little one (unidentified.) He sported a plunging neckline, and was tall, slim and of bland appearance. None of that description applies to Major Rimmington and his self-description as ageing appeared to apply to the extent that we are all ageing from the moment we are born until we finally expire. His Army FA badge was proudly displayed. As an even more irrelevant point than usual, JCFC has one gripe. Having grown up attending chapel teas where we sang Grace to Rimington (Be present at our table Lord...) and later officiated at Rimington FC - change in Farmer Thistlethwaite's henhouse, which confirms the minimal level of JCFC'S refereeing knowledge - it is sad to accord this gentleman an extra m, especially as he already has one in front of his BE.

The first incident of note came after 7 minutes. The Shrivenham keeper came charging out to intercept, found himself with no obvious alternative but to continue his run down the left touchline before pumping the ball forward. It was soon in the hands of the home keeper, who launched it back. As the visiting keeper tried to regain his area, he was deliberately tripped by the Fleet number 10, who was fortunate that the officials' focus was elsewhere. On 10 minutes the Shrivenham number 11 was guilty of an over-committed challenge. Mr Mansour settled for a stepped approach and a warning with captain - defensible enough, though some might have skipped this stage. On 22 minutes the lucky Fleet number 10 was high and late with a challenge. Major Rimmington flagged and the same procedure was applied,  possibly less defensibly in JCFC'S view. An offside flag went unnoticed on 28 minutes. Three times in the first half the Shrivenham keeper could only watch as the ball passed just wide of his right post. On 35 minutes the Shrivenham number 5 clattered the back of an attacker's legs and was probably fortunate to escape with a word of warning.

At a stoppage early in the second half, Major Rimmington tried to attract the attention of the Shrivenham right back to clear something off the pitch, resorting to repeated cries of "player" (it sounded odd some years ago when Darren Wilding used it as his default mode of address) but had no luck until he was able to identify him as "number 2." On 58 minutes the Fleet number 5 was both high and late, sparking a minor stramash, if that is not contradiction in terms.Mr Mansour took the offender to one side and after completing the formalities showed a justified red card. On 63 minutes, the Shrivenham sub robbed a defender and had only the keeper to beat. He did not fire past the post: instead he hit it and the rebound was cleared. A Fleet miscue in front of goal wasted a glorious chance. A succession of corners as Shrivenham defenders headed behind allowed one assistant time to rummage in his pockets to find something to keep his energy levels up. On 72 minutes a Fleet player was hurt in a challenge with an opponent. The home number 6 was sent the sin-bin for protesting at the lack of a free-kick, but it looked to be a situation of simultaneous fouls, if such a concept is possible. Though now down to  9 men, Fleet took the lead three minutes later, but a good run down the right, a perfect cross and excellent header enabled Shrivenham to equalise on 79 minutes. A wild, uncontrolled challenge with no regard to the ball  on 83 minutes inevitably led to a red card for the visiting number 6. At this point the home player was waved back from his sin-bin, ran across the field, chased a ball into the corner - and was promptly subbed. Two minutes into added time a free-kick was headed back across the goal  and prodded in to give Fleet the lead. The game was not yet finished, though. A ball struck into the area rebounded off a Fleet defender.. Shrivenham appealed for a penalty. Those of us on the stand side were in no position to judge, but Mr Mansour immediately indicated nothing doing, and that should have been the end of it. It was unfortunate that as Shrivenham clamoured for a penalty, three Fleet forwards broke clear. Two of them were not needed as the man in possession  beat the keeper to make it 3-1 and prompt extended protests, the visiting keeper booting the ball away. At the final whistle,the Shrivenham players' fist touches seemed to be accompanied by recriminations, while a member of the coaching staff appeared to deliver a lengthy tirade,  Mr Mansour showing tremendous patience and restraint.

If at times JCFC and Mr Mansour did not see quite eye to eye, that is probably more of a reflection on the former, who tends to favour a harder-line approach. It was unreasonable to expect a performance of the quality of Hampshire referees Matt Russell and Robert Ablitt in the last two seasons from a (presumed) Level 4, but there was still much to appreciate in his work: excellent movement, good communication skills, both individually and more generally and commendable sharpness in the decisions he made. Would earlier use of the yellow card have prevented the later reds? Almost certainly not, as the offenders simply were not in control of themselves in that instant. Let's hope, anyway, that his next match has a less fraught ending.

What is clear is that the interpretation of handball now being applied at the top level, is perhaps operable for the upper echelons with access to VAR and slow motion replays, but makes things infinitely more difficult, if not impossible, for the vast majority of referees lower down the order, who do not enjoy such luxuries. Expectations are created which officials cannot hope to meet.

A further bout of wrestling with TfL's incomprehensible ticketing arrangements made for a fraught journey to Mitcham for

Episode 4
Sunday 11th October
FA Vase 2nd Qualifying Round
Tooting Bec  2 v 2   Lydd Town
Neil Keirs (Surrey); Daryl Ann, Jack Healy - .assuming the switch to Sunday had not caused any changes.

The only Neil Keirs shown by 192 lives in Ayr, but there is a James N Keirs listed in Guildford which might or might not be relevant. JCFC had been disappointed to find an official of a somewhat earlier vintage appointed. From the heights of the stand, Mr Keirs's fair hair gave an impression of Chris Tarrant after a rough night on one of his more gruelling train journeys - but far more cheerful than that thought implies. AR1 looked seriously undernourished, having seemingly donated his share of this month's rations to AR2. Between them they provided a fine array of badges.

Mr Keirs soon won JCFC round , with a positive attitude, excellent communication and a superb "bedside manner." Lydd took the lead on 14 minutes, beating the offside line and playing the ball across for a straightforward finish. There was almost a repetition shortly afterwards, but this time the straightforward finish was looped skyward. Mr Keirs had had quiet words with a couple of players, the second after initiallyl looking for an advantage. On 39 minutes the Tooting number10's challenge turned into a thwack: no captain involved here, merely a yellow card calmly administered. In first half stoppage time a Tooting corner was headed in for the equaliser.

On the hour Lydd were intent on making a substitution while a different player was down and receiving treatment. The physio signalled that he too would have to be replaced, and he left in the far corner. Play restarted and Tooting took the lead. The rather unpleasant Lydd manager had an extended moan at AR1 that he had not been allowed to get a replacement, but as he hadn't had the wit to get his man ready just in case, the fault was entirely his own. Lydd's equaliser came after 75 minutes. The home keeper  was hurt in the process and his physio's eventual entry made Berlioz's March to the scaffold seem distinctly overpaced. On 85 minutes Tooting had a shot blocked, hit a post with the rebound and Lydd were able to break until foiled by an offside. In the course of the five added minutes, the Tooting number 7 twice got clear, but each time the Lydd keeper was able to keep the scores level.

And so to penalties.  Tooting going first scored their first three, but Lydd's  second was saved.  So too was Tooting's fourth, but with Lydd having the chance to draw level, the home keeper made a brilliant save, reaching upwards out of his dive. The fifth Tooting penalty was converted to take them through to the next round.

It had been an untroubled afternoon for Mr Keirs. Lucky? There is always an element of that, but the way he interacted calmly with players, was always on top of things and radiated a constant sense of enjoyment must surely be a much greater factor. It was the sort of performance that in France or Germany is called sovereign, JCFC using instead the adjective "serene." Comfortably the best refereeing of the season to date: if only Mr Keirs were 15 years younger! But then, he probably wouldn't be such a good referee if he were.

On Saturday Brighouse Town had succumbed 2-5 at home against one of the sides below them in the table - a side apparently particularly adept at Lazarus-like recoveries from life-threatening injuries - and had fallen to 18th out of the 19 teams in the division.With the next match against the table-toppers, it was with a sense of foreboding that JCFC made his way to

Monday 12th October 2020
NPL Division 1 NW
Brighouse Town   3   v   4   Dunston
Will Cavanagh (Sheffield); Duncan Carratt, Arran Williams.

It was a surprise, therefore, when the Dunston keeper flapped at a second-minute free-kick, allowing a home forward to give his side the lead. Only another 88 minutes to survive! A good Dunston chance was blocked on 5 minutes, but just one minute later the Brighouse keeper unwisely dashed out to the corner of the penalty area and his unsuccessful dive merely conceded a penalty, duly converted. On 9 minutes it was the turn of the home number 11 to go down under a challenge - and to receive a yellow card for simulation. By minute 10 Duston were ahead and it could well have been three soon afterwards. Mr Cavanagh treated the Dunston number 7 to an extended discourse, the only further involvement required in the half. A good run by the home number 11 ended with a strong shot, unfortunately just the wrong side of the post. Town's defensive frailties were exposed yet again, a corner being far too easily transformed into a goal.

Half-time chat in the stand centred on whether the strong Dunston side's margin of victory would be four or five goals. Town emerged though to play with spirit, though their keeper had to do the defenders' job for them on the hour.A long ball from the  Brighouse keeper found the lively right winger, but the eventual shot was comfortably saved. Despite a Dunston shot which rattled the frame of the goal, the signs were more encouraging for the locals and one stentorian Dunston fan began to berate his defenders. It seemed unduly pessimistic, but he was proved correct, as Brighouse pulled a goal back on 72 minutes. The visiting number 2 received a yellow card for a mistimed slide and on 74 minutes Brighouse drew level. In the end they were slightly unlucky to concede the clincher for Dunston, a ricochet in no man's land falling behind the Town defence, Dunston taking possession and crossing to find an attacker still unmarked, as Town tried vainly to recover. There was a late caution for each side, one after a well-judged advantage. Town can take some reason for optimism in their second half performance - there must be a few worse teams somewhere in the division ... mustn't there?

Mr Cavanagh is new to Level 3 this season and still a young man. He coped very comfortably in unspectacular fashion. He appeared to relate well to the players - experience as a primary school teacher helps! - and found plenty to grin about. A solid evening's work from all the officials.