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Author Topic: Pyramid Patrol 2020/21  (Read 9235 times)

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JCFC

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Re: Pyramid Patrol 2020/21
« Reply #30 on: Wed 30 Sep 2020 14:46 »
With the NCEFL Premier Division no longer having Level 3 referees, their appointments list had a very unfamiliar air. The top division was handled by officials seen previously on the line at step 3/4/5 or in the middle at Step 6. The remaining division saw a raft of previously unseen names, with newly promoted Level 4s featuring prominently. One such was in charge of

Tuesday 29th September 2020
NCEFL Division 1
Emley   1   v   0   North Ferriby
Phillip Morton (Sheffield); Sam Bragg, Matthew Rose.

Mr Rose had a dark beard, which lent him a certain presence and he seemed to receive very little abuse from the wooden fence on the far side of the pitch. Young Mr Bragg proved to have a bit more about him than his slightly diffident appearance initially suggested. It was hard to guess Mr Morton's age - prematurely bald, with the remnants close-shaven, he was probably younger than suspected. He looked pretty wiry and in the opening stages made numerous rapid sprints and did much energetic side-skipping: the question on everyone's lips - or in this one person's mind, at least - was whether he would still be buzzing around like the fly with the colourful posterior midway through the second half. "Up to a point, Lord Copper," was the answer. It was probably a daunting debut at this level to have Messrs Richardson and Cox in attendance.

A debated throw-in decision saw Mr Bragg receive loud and offensive comments from Emley's numbers 3 and 5. It is doubtful, perhaps, whether any intervention from Mr Morton to speak to the offenders would have influenced subsequent behaviour, but none was forthcoming. There was regular "advice" too from the home dug-out: one strident appeal for a penalty - "that was an easy one" - would have produced apoplexy had such a penalty been awarded against his side - the gentle contact with the attacker's back would not have worried my granny. That apart, Ferriby were well on top, doing most of the attacking. Mr Morton was having little trouble until a foul on the visiting keeper on 25 minutes led to a general set-to, which repeated whistling took a while to calm. Not much in the way of violence, but a fair amount of vigorous pushing and shoving. Mr Morton called the Emley number 4 towards the corner for a protracted talk, a yellow card and a further long discussion. Whether that was the wisest way of doing it, with players regrouped by now on halfway is open to debate. Before play resumed, he also had to move to halfway, locate the Ferriby number 9 and repeat the process. It can be a good idea, perhaps, to give tempers time to subside, but over three minutes seemed excessive. Ferriby did find the net, but Mr Bragg's flag had been instantly raised. Emley did have one near thing when the visiting keeper came but dropped the ball, but the ball was put out for a corner. The Emley coach treated Mr Morton to a lengthy harangue at the interval - for no obvious reason.

Things were completely different in a second half that became a very stop-start affair, with Emley now having the better of things. A Ferriby defender was injured, no foul given, but Emley players were lectured, with a similar scenario in reverse some minutes later. There was unjustified derision from the crowd when after this, Mr Morton had to run back to the keeper, who had been in possession, take the ball from him and then drop it at his feet. On the hour an Emley header came back off the bar. Talking points continued. An Emley pass struck the referee's foot and rebounded to the passer, who was able to effect a better pass under less pressure. Should play be stopped as a possible advantage had been gained? JCFC is inclined to go with Mr Morton's decision to play on, but could see the opposite point of view. An attack-stopping trip saw a yellow card for the Ferriby number 6. On 74 minutes a Ferriby player sustained a head injury as he charged an opponent from behind, Emley sent the ball forward but it was hoofed clear by Ferriby. Play was stopped for treatment, and restarted - correctly in JCFC'S now limited understanding - with the ball being dropped for Ferriby back on the edge of their penalty area, though Mr Morton had a degree of difficulty in persuading Emley players that this was the right course, and the ball was dropped with an attacker in very close attendance. As little feuds developed, tempers rose once more. A foul by the Emley number 2 led to another flare-up, with Mr Bragg doing very well to get in and isolate the offender until he could be shown his yellow card. JCFC had by now made his way to the corner, to avoid being caught the wrong side of the tunnel. A silly barge on the keeper saw another, lesser, airing of differences and a yellow for the Ferriby number 5. Another Ferriby player received a yellow on 90 minutes. By now it was 21.36 and, with the bus at 21.38, JCFC had to leave, but was only a few yards across the car park when a cheer announced that Emley had scored a winner. No further disciplinary action seems to have been required in the remaining four minutes. And JCFC caught the bus.

It was not the pleasantest of matches for Mr Morton and despite some good spots he did not entirely come to terms with proceedings. There was rather too much chat - in both directions - and ultimately not enough football as players began to milk the referee for free-kicks. Still, making a silk purse out of a sow's ear is a lot to ask of any official, let alone one new to this level. With luck, he will find two more amenable teams next time out.
« Last Edit: Thu 01 Oct 2020 19:10 by JCFC »
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