RateTheRef

For a long time it seemed the wrong decision. Late trains,one being stopped and turned round two stations short of its destination, and heavy rain saw a soggy and unhappy JCFC arrive at

Tuesday 30th October 2018
Regionalliga West
Wuppertaler SV   2   v   3   Fortuna Düsseldorf
Alexander Schuh (Mönchengladbach); Torsten Schwerdtfeger, Cedric Gottschalk

The officials took to the field in yellow, and with black cuffs and collar looked very smart - sorry bmb! Herr Schuh is 27 and is fair-haired and slightly built. So too AR1 and a hand-changer to boot. AR2 was older, heavier, with an awkward gait and total commitment to his right hand.

From the off there were numerous bumps and spills -let's put that down to the conditions. Professional U-23 sides are normally pretty disciplined, but Fortuna's was well practised in the art of making the most of any contact to win free-kicks, as Herr Schuh in time came to realise.. The rain grew even more intense and on the quarter hour those spectators standing in the open were invited into the stand. Most took advantage, but the ultras and their **** choirmaster bravely stayed put throughout. Wuppertal did most of the attacking, but on 36 minutes, non-existent marking allowed Fortuna to take the lead. There were yellow cards within a minute for the home full-backs, the second leading to a free-kick at the edge of the area, which sailed into the net from a narrow angle. A splendid shot in stoppage time gave Fortuna their third.

Bmb must have been on the phone as the officials returned in black. Wuppertal soon had a handball appeal waved away - Herr Schuh reasonably deciding that the ricochet from foot to hand was inadvertent. On 55 minutes Herr Gottschalk raised his flag for offside; a second later Herr Schuh awarded a penalty. Herr Gottschalk briefly lowered his flag but thought better of it. Fortuna players drew the referee's attention and the decision was changed. Now it was Wuppertal's turn to protest. As all retreated for the offside free-kick, Herr Schuh went and spoke to his assistant, returning to reaward the penalty, duly converted by Wuppertal. A challenge by the home number 10 sent an opponent through the air. It looked a clear yellow, but he went through a whole rigmarole of praying gestures before it could be administered - he was of Italian stock after all. Good interplay and a fine shot led to Wuppertal's second on 71 minutes. A foul by the Fortuna number 12 brought a reaction from his opponent and a lecture for both. Wuppertal had two clear chances, putting the first wide and the second over the bar.  The third was stopped by a foul, leading to some milling and a red card for the Fortuna 4. Wuppertal pressed hard, one attack producing four blocks in the goalmouth, but could not find the equaliser.

It had been the least straightforward of the five matches watched. Herr Schuh had moved well,used his whistle sensibly and not done too badly, but without quite convincing in terms of authority.

Happily the rain had finally relented and an uncomfortably brisk walk to the station enabled JCFC to catch the train with seconds to spare.

NB The **** replaces a word indicating that the young man was without a shirt. Or 'baht top as they don't say on Ilkley Moor.