RateTheRef

The Industrialist and Inventor Jedidiah Strutt was once synonymous with the Cromford and Belper Mills. Those who are familiar with Christchurch Meadows at Belper will know that the East Mill dominates the skyline. More of both on Wiki, but as a Jedidiah hasn't been mentioned before on RTR...

Belper Tn v Stafford Rangers
Att: 651
Score: 2-1
Referee: Ashley Allen

There's a Stiff Little Fingers number (At The Edge). It has a line 🎶 Always yap yap yapping.. More of that later..

Mine is an opinion. It's worth nothing more than the guy in the next seat, or behind the goal. That said, from me,  next to me, or from the terraces, there were three incidents that were worthy discussion topics, and most would not have supported the view of Mr Allen, who to his credit was indeed way nearer than those watching. 

The first, an aerial challenge from a Belper player did not even warrant a whistle! When play naturally stopped moments later, all Stafford Rangers players within the vicinity surrounded the referee, suggesting they'd seen that challenge as far from legal, as it also appeared to me.

Given the veracity of the complaints, Mr Allen may think next time about his take-up position for the restart? Plonking himself next to the Stafford bench for a potential further ear bashing? Really? Anywhere but there Mr Allen!

The next, a 53rd minute red card to Belper for the sort of challenge that many would have said yellow. Me? Being a little too far away, and not a great angle (tbh angles don't matter much at sixty. At sixty you can see nothing for three feet, and haze after fifty yards), so as much as I "thought" yellow, a better placed referee I'll support.

The final beeeeg decision was a penalty call to Belper. Many more in the ground weren't happy than happy, that's all I'll say!

And coming back to the yap yap yapping.. I well know that referee's chit chat plays a large part in control, but today (in my view) it was overdone. Cannot a referee nowadays control from a distance? Does a referee need to hold play to explain the laws to two players jostling at a corner? Break up play when it's needed please, not as routine.

To his credit Mr Allen kept control, did at least challenge blatant time wasting, but I'm left with the feeling that I did not see the best of him today, but as I was wanting a Jimmy Riddle for much of the second half, maybe it was I who was distracted, not the referee!