RateTheRef

The reference in last week's Non League Paper report from Lincoln United to "promotion-chasing Brighouse" drew grim laughter from those who see them regularly and who feel "relegation-dodging Brighouse" is a more accurate view of the present situation. Nevertheless, the usual suspects were in attendance for

Saturday 4th February 2023
NPL Division 1 East
Brighouse Town   2   v   2   North Shields
Karl Parker (Sheffield); Dwayne Chappell, Jamie Cogill?

Some three and a half years ago, a shambolic competition was organised - using the term in its loosest sense - in Yorkshire. Two of the sides meant to take part dropped out, and we never discovered what happened to the game between Yorkshire and the Chagos Islands. For the match between the hosts and Island of Jersey Parishes, the referee was Mr Parker - then a Surrey-registered new Level 4. He did well enough, without commanding total respect. Since then, he has appeared regularly in Yorkshire and been promoted to Level 3 this season.

Brighouse had the ball in the net early on - unnecessarily, as the whistle had long gone for offside. Mr Parker had a gentle word with the attacker as he trotted back. On 12 minutes, he headed to the North Shields bench to have words with someone. A minute later, a Brighouse attacker was needlessly taken down in the area and Mr Parker was right on the spot to award the penalty. The visitors had already shown a propensity to greet any decision against them with a less-than-edifying verbal response, but the protests were not too prolonged on this occasion. Or that would have been the case, but as the kick was about to be taken, the keeper raced from his goal and plonked himself in front of the ball and had to be ushered back. Time for a caution, thought JCFC. The taker, though, was not deterred and gave Town the lead. Brighouse, however, are generous hosts and granted the visitors an equaliser through a headed own goal on 22 minutes. When North Shields added a second just after the half hour, an all-too-familiar gloom descended on the locals.

Brighouse attacked the second half with a little more energy and drew level within a minute. Exchanges were a little more even - Shields created the better clear chances (indeed, the only ones) but their finishing was fortunately as poor as Brighouse's defending.  The SEPAR was in good voice, directing his comments at the visiting players - and occasionally his own - but remarked several times that the referee was doing well, and not just at the four yellow cards shown to North Shields as the game meandered to its conclusion. Town now face a run of four away games - a positive result at Carlton on Tuesday is needed.

JCFC had not been over-impressed with Mr Parker at the previous sighting, or was maybe just grumpy at the general chaos of the occasion, but formed a different view this time. He was always well positioned, giving himself a degree of width when appropriate, and his decisions appeared accurate and were always given sharply and confidently. Though JCFC would have liked to see action against some of the verbals, they never lasted or got out of hand, so Mr Parker was vindicated in ignoring them. A very positive verdict from JCFC is pretty much the norm, but wonder of wonders, while making his way out of the ground, the stentorian friend awarded his man of the match to the referee.