RateTheRef

Some 50 years ago a song was current in Manchester overspill areas that went
"Oh dear, what can the matter be?
Some silly burgher has sent us to Hattersley.." (I think burgher was the word they meant)

In the Colne Valley, that may now be inverted along the lines of
"We here are perfectly glad to say
Little Miss Hattersley keeps getting sent our way"

Or so it seemed when glancing at the programme for

Tuesday 27th October 2020
NWCFL Division 1N
Golcar United   2   v   3   AFC Liverpool
Christiana Hattersley; Gordon Weir, Craig Smith.  (Actual referee Lee Harding, (Manchester FA), confirmed below.)

Sure enough, this was the third time that Miss Hattersley had been listed as referee at Golcar. On the first occasion she was easily recognisable; on the second she had donned a beard and with various other touches had passed herself off as Matt Clarke; this time that supreme mistress of disguise had gone for short brown hair and a masculine appearance, but had cunningly concealed her alter ego's identity. Perhaps someone with knowledge of the workings of the NWCFL could enlighten us. AR1 did indeed seem to be Mr Weir, with a beard not noticed from afar at Ashton United, while AR2 may or may not have been as listed, but was not wholly fluent with his hand switches.

After Liverpool had successfully cleared a moment of early danger they took control of the game and though Golcar headed over, It was no surprise when the visitors opened the scoring on 18 minutes, two efforts having been blocked before an attempted clearance appeared to strike an attacker and fly into the net. Their second goal came just after the half hour and was fair reward for Liverpool's superiority. The final touch of the half, though, came when a Golcar free-kick was headed over the crossbar. In fact, it was not the final touch, as we had to wait for the ball to be retrieved and the goal-kick taken!

Matters continued in the same vein after the restart, with Liverpool again on top. There was a slightly hectic lecture for the home number 4 and the visiting number 10, for a very minor spat. Liverpool twice put excellent chances  over the bar around the hour mark. The only surprise about their 72nd minute third goal was that it had been so long in arriving. There was a yellow card for the home number 2 for a reckless challenge, but his side created a major surprise a minute later, by pulling a goal back. This was compounded on 82 minutes when they headed home from a corner, to raise the hopes of home supporters. The final surprise, in the end, was that there was to be no equaliser. One good Golcar attack was stopped by a scything challenge which rightly earned the Liverpool number 2 a yellow card and despite a couple of further decent chances, Golcar were unable to pull off the miracle.

As to the referee, he communicated explanations and instructions firmly and confidently, if perhaps not always in the most emollient of manners. One advantage possibility was missed - AR1 having half flagged, it was probably wise to stop play - but otherwise some good examples were allowed. An added-time minimal burst of handbags produced another rather frantic reaction where most referees would wish to look calm, but the referee and his colleagues were rightly well received at the final whistle of a well-controlled match.