I hope club treasurers are well prepared.
Those clubs in Yorkshire better get used to paying more expenses
As I handed over my £1 for the raffle, I was grumpily informed "It's drawn by the referee at half time, if you don't win, blame him.
We've had to pay £160 for the officials today." In the end it was AR1 who made the draw - and I didn't win, but don't blame her at all.
Episode 5Saturday 17th October 2020
FA Vase 2nd Qualifying Round
Liversedge 3 v 1 Ashton Athletic
Michael Trevethan (Leeds); Clare Thompson, Keiran Leach.
It is many years since Mr Trevethan was first encountered at Silsden, as AR2 to Duncan Street and in those days he was Wakefield based. He had appeared on the line several times since, but had never been seen in the middle before.
There was an early, accidental, head/blood injury to an Ashton man, Mr Trevethan following the protocol precisely. The visitors' goal on 5 minutes was an elegant one after good work on the right. A spell of Liversedge pressure eventually produced an equaliser on 11 minutes. Midway through the half, Sedge had a half chance, but gave the keeper an easy save, and within seconds Ashton had a two-thirds chance but headed it wide. It was then the turn of a Liversedge player to require attention for a blood injury. His goalkeeper, who had never been popular with JCFC when at Brighouse, promptly acquired a foot problem. Mr Trevethan repeatedly called for the physio, who continued to treat the blood injury. When sufficient time had elapsed, the keeper "bravely" regained his feet and play was able to resume. Mr Trevethan headed for the dug-out, probably to remind them that he would wish to check before allowing the man back on, rather than to issue a rebuke for this bit of gamesmanship. AR2 came briefly under fire from the said keeper when he half flagged for something not in his sector before thinking better of it, Mr Trevethan, much closer, letting play continue. Just before the break, Sedge attackers failed to make contact with a ball all the way across the Ashton goal. At the interval, the Ashton number 11 had something he wished to clarify.
The same number 11 conceded a free-kick just two minutes into the second half and Liversedge headed it home to take the lead. They might have added a third just short of the hour, when two unselfish passes ended with the ball at the feet of a colleague, who wanted too many touches and found his shot blocked on the line.When it did come, on 72 minutes, it was a 25 yard screamer. Mr Trevethan had been leading the inexperienced-looking AR2 well on throws, but on 81 minutes, one was clearly wrong and disputed by Sedge. At a stoppage seconds later the most voluble protester was called for a lecture, and proceeded to deliver one! It would doubtless have quickly been forgotten, but if a warning about dissent was thought necessary, either a quick word in passing or firmer action would have been acceptable, but this time it merely allowed a chance for further dissent and seemed counterproductive, though matters continued peaceably to the finish, with the home keeper taking every opportunity in the final quarter, or more, to do his well-rehearsed imitation of a beached whale every time he touched the ball.
There were a number of knocks and bumps, but no real malice. Mr Trevethan managed to get through without resorting to a card and there was nothing that really demanded one. He had to issue a good number of "formal" words to players, involving the captains on four occasions and this was sufficient to retain control. His movement was steady rather than spectacular, but perfectly adequate and his dealings with players seemed appropriate, with a degree of praise and the occasional smile. There was one slightly irksome habit - in this quarter, if nowhere else. At the end of his warnings to players, he sends them on their way by raising a hand, looking as if he is brandishing a non-existent card. A habit to avoid, please, but otherwise a job well done.