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Author Topic: Pyramid Patrol 2022/23  (Read 21887 times)

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JCFC

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Re: Pyramid Patrol 2022/23
« Reply #135 on: Sun 29 Jan 2023 17:42 »
For the past three weeks JCFC had been looking forward to watching an official who seemed to have passed quickly through Levels 4 and 3 and will start February as a Level 2b. Unfortunately, a Friday check revealed that he had been replaced. Any disappointment, however, was tempered by the fact that his replacement was a young official with refereeing in his genes (his middle name might provide a clue!)

The next task therefore was to book train tickets. The two previous Saturdays had offered relatively straightforward trips, changing at Manchester and Nuneaton. This week there were warnings that the return trains would not run as planned - both Avanti and TransPennine being in trouble. An alternative, more expensive, route was proposed, via Sheffield, Leicester and Nuneaton. Eventually a better solution emerged - Brighouse to Leeds and a further change at Tamworth. The first section was scheduled to take twice as long as usual, suggesting that it was to be a replacement bus, but there was no sign of life at 8.45. A call on the information phone sent JCFC to the opposite side of the station - where he waited and waited for the 9.00 replacement bus. at 9.10 a further call was made, the helpful young man offering to check and send the driver back if necessary. Half an hour later, still nothing, so JCFC decided to take the train on the one line - towards Bradford, that was running. Thereafter all worked swimmingly, with everything on time and JCFC arrived very early for a splendidly filling pulled pork roll with stuffing, gravy and apple sauce, before:

Episode 12
Saturday 28th January 2023
FA Vase 4th Round
Atherstone Town   2   v   0   Hartpury University
William Booth (Sutton in Ashfield still?); Jordan Griffiths, Shaun Currall. 4thers: Nelson Oppong.

Young Mr Booth (23?) had been seen on the line at Penistone a couple of years ago, but has progressed rapidly and to be appointed to this tie in his first season at Level 3 suggests that he has been doing well. JCFC's expectation of an array of Nottinghamshire, Staffordshire and Shropshire badges was to be disappointed, as all had been overcome by an attack of shyness.

The local supporters seemed a pleasant and civilised bunch, but on 4 minutes there were shouts for handball, when a Hartpury defender was struck by the ball. The fact that Mr Booth immediately whistled and raced to the spot (the fastest he moved all afternoon) outpaced only by the physio, who had to help the player off to be replaced, suggests that on this occasion their eyes deceived them. Hartpury threatened on occasions, but Atherstone were looking the stronger side. On 19 minutes the visiting keeper was fouled as he collected a high ball; home fans were not convinced, nor was one home player. It was good to see Mr Booth summon both him and his captain for a warning that this was not acceptable - and from that point there was no obvious dissent. Perhaps Mr Booth had taken on board Mutn3's strictures from a match a season or two ago. Another Atherstone attack just a minute later saw the keeper palm a high cross away, but only to an opponent just inside the area and an undisputed foul gave the home side a penalty and the lead. A swift break, with a couple of good passes gave them their second on 27 minutes. There was almost a third just before half-time, but the crossbar came to the rescue.

When, immediately on the restart, the unchallenged home keeper collected a gentle ball and did the customary belly flop, it was clear what Atherstone had in mind. There developed a double act between keeper and defender at goal-kicks, keeper faffing about placing the ball, defender appearing from some distance to take the kick - eventually. On the first occasion Mr Booth whistled from near the centre circle, on the second he repeated the process. JCFC was by now willing him to stay deep at  the next one, rather than heading off upfield, but no! The third was not unreasonably delayed, but the fourth was a total mickey-take, with the defender coming to replace the ball that the keeper had so carefully positioned. Mr Booth walked a little way towards the area to admonish them. Still, he retired to the centre circle for the fifth one, but this time he ran back to show the defender a yellow card. JCFC wondered whether a more active approach could possibly have avoided this. Probably not, but it would have been good to see an attempt. Hartpury had a better second half and forced one good save, but could not find the net. On 82 minutes a Hartpury attacker was brought down in full flight, Mr Griffiths flagged and the timewasting defender was asked to depart early. Home supporters, to their credit, and club officials subsequently, attached no blame to the referee, but to the defender for his foolish timewasting card. There was a further Atherstone yellow in added time for a reckless attempt at a tackle.

As hinted earlier, Mr Booth was more economical in his movement than any referee of a similar age - staying central in the manner of the upper echelons and hoping, usually successfully, that distance would lend enchantment to the view. He did miss one late challenge on a Hartpury player, awarding a throw-in instead, thereby earning Mr Currall - whose decision it wasn't - a volley of comments from the small visiting contingent. The same official had earlier been on the receiving end of an expression of disagreement over an offside decision, which the spectator was in no position to judge. Realising that his comment was outwith the club's code of conduct, he changed it, with a shout of "That's testicles, lino." If to some extent, JCFC was not quite as impressed with Mr Booth as he had hoped to be, it is doubtful that any such reservations would be held by the clubs and he did emerge unscathed and with a degree of credit.

The walk back to Atherstone station passed quickly - too quickly, as it meant a 45 minute wait in an unlit shelter, but thereafter the trip went well. The bus was waiting at Leeds, depositing JCFC in the station car park at Brighouse, solving the mystery of its non-appearance in the morning. Home at 21.35.
« Last Edit: Thu 13 Jul 2023 13:07 by JCFC »
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