RateTheRef

Friday produced a series of wrong decisions. Looking for another line to highlight on my dilapidated rail map, (how sad is that?) I planned to make the trip to Erben. Wiki et al suggested that there was plenty of interest for the visitor, so I decided to wait and see the sights. Arriving just before noon, I was greeted by the tolling of a deep bell, echoed initially by its cheeky young grandson from across the town. The youngster gave up at twelve, but grandad had greater stamina and continued. On reaching the centre it became clear that it had been tolling to mourn the fact that the town had died and gone to heaven. The sights proved few and were quickly seen, so a cafe would have been welcome, but the place was shut, except for an ice cream parlour. As the only thing coming to me from out of the skies was steady drizzle, Eberny Eis did not appeal (if yesterday's effort saw me heading for the naughty step, that will surely lead Whistleblower to cast me into some oubliette) so it was back to the station to wait 45 minutes for the next train. All of which did not do much for my mood and did not augur well for the officials at

Friday 8th March 2019
Bayernliga Nord
SC Eltersdorf   1   v   1   FSV Erlangen Bruck
Andreas Dinger (Biscofsgrün); Jan Dirrigl, Michael Bäumel.

Pouring rain on the walk from station to ground did not improve matters, but the clubhouse saved the day with Schnitzel, chips and salad. The decent programme was free. This was very much a local derby and drew a respectable (for the fifth tier) crowd of 350. Herr Dinger is approaching oldie status, being 30, the two assistants (both accomplished hand switchers) being 20 and 21. All three looked immaculate in their primrose shirts with black collar and cuffs.

The first quarter was spent almost wholly in the Bruck half - so much so that the home keeper was often mooching around on the edge of the centre circle - but it was not until midway through the half that Eltersdorf took the lead. There followed a couple of yellow cards for the visitors. Eltersdorf continued to create and miss chances, and were fortunate that a clear break by the visitors seconds before the interval came to nothing.

Bruck offered rather more in the second half, equalising on the hour when they lifted the ball over the keeper. The game became very stop-start, with the home team picking up two yellows this time. Bruck came close to a winner on 88 minutes, the home keeper diving full length to touch the ball away. As added time began a clash produced a minor flurry, quickly stopped by Herr Dinger, who consulted his assistant before showing yellow to a player from each side.

For much of the game Herr Dinger's movement was not greatly tested, but when it was, he was not found wanting. One throw in the first half saw neither referee nor assistant keen to make the decision, but otherwise his triage was very good. He did whistle unduly long and hard for some mundane offences, but Germans seem to like that. His carding technique involved flashing the card at a player some distance away, but again, that seems to be the custom. He did maintain good control and used his smile well to maintain pleasant relations with the players.

The match having begun at a civilised 19.00, I was back in Bamberg before 22.00.