RateTheRef

The train journey had been horrendous. Stranding at Brighouse by a Grand Central cancellation (shortage of conductors) followed by delays on LNER and Cross Country led to successively missed connections at Doncaster, Peterborough and Cambridge. As a result the only option was to alight several stops early to get to the match. The ticket having been booked before the appointments were posted, it was pleasing to find a respected Rate the Ref contributor involved at

Tuesday 13th October 2020
FA Cup 3rd Qualifying Round
Bury Town  2  v. 0   Nuneaton Borough
Aaron Farmer (Colchester);  John Hyde, Cliff Mills.

Mr Farmer is still on the uphill slope of his twenties. His dark hair and eyes, with a flashing smile, must make him attractive to the female of the species, provided that they like a slightly prominent chin. His closing remarks to the club officials pre-match, that the game was not about the officials may or may not be a standard line, but it was convincingly delivered. Would he be able to live up to this? The short answer is "yes."

On 13 minutes a unison Nuneaton appeal for a handball in the area left Mr Farmer unimpressed and nobody sought to press the matter. Similarly, on 25 minutes a Bury attacker was adjudged, accurately enough, to have backed into a defender waiting under a high ball in the goalmouth. Mr Farmer gave the free-kick and scooted off before anyone had a chance to disagree. On 32 minutes a Bury free-kick was headed back from beyond the far post and prodded home to give Bury the lead. Four minutes later they doubled this, a low shot passing between the keeper's legs. Nuneaton created the odd half chance,including one overhead effort, but did not trouble the home keeper.

At the start of the second half, Mr Farmer was in earnest conversation with a group of Nuneaton players. One of them gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder. Not being a Premier League superstar, he did not fall to the ground clutching his face, but continued the chat, which seemed to centre on the number 2. Had he possibly been suffering abuse? If so, Mr Farmer could sympathise, having in the first half been mistaken for R Warnke by some Bury fans who had forgotten that that gentleman's whistling was now confined to heavenly fields. Play got under way again with no further ado and with the visitors on top it took a crucial last-ditch tackle to foil a dangerous raid. There was an invitation to the home captain to attend a warning for his number 10. The Bury defence weathered a series of attacks and when they broke clear,the Nuneaton number 5 settled for a bodycheck and yellow card. The home keeper was performing well, with a good save of a shot through a mass of legs, but as is the way of keepers of sides who are leading, was unable to touch the ball  without collapsing to the ground. Nuneaton were frustrated and one attacker eventually reacted and there might have been a set-to, had Mr Farmer not been very quick to intervene. His word to the attacker and no further action seemed just right.Similarly, his rapid production of a second yellow for the Nuneaton number 5's reckless challenge on 85 minutes forestalled any possible nastiness. There was an added-time yellow for Bury, for preventing a throw, but with their keeper again to the fore, they saw the game out.

Mr Farmer varied his whistle tone well and showed a good turn of pace when required. His triage was excellent, particularly in deciding what did not constitute a foul, but also in his application of appropriate sanctions. He showed a high level  of anticipation, but most impressive of all was his general manner and successful communication, with his smile being deployed regularly. What is certain is that he and his colleagues made an important  contribution to a most enjoyable game. If this was typical of his usual standard (is it, nemesis?) there is every reason to think that he deserves to be upwardly mobile. A mature chap with a wise head on young shoulders.