RateTheRef

Where to start with this game - this was old-school Stoke with the crowd fully behind them in a crackling atmosphere.

First half - Kitchen sailed through it with little involvement and went largely unnoticed. The only scenario was when Manhoef went through on goal and Kovacevic came flying out to meet him, diving at his feet. I think there was contact, but Manhoef remained upright to try and score/assist. At a guess, 95-98 other players out of 100 would go down and play for the penalty in that situation.

Second half - pretty much straight away we had the Lawal situation (clip already posted above). It was at my end and when it happened my words were 'the ball's in play, so the restart has to be a Norwich penalty, it's just if he judges the push as violent for red or yellow'. However, I think the officials have tried to neutralise the situation by saying there was a foul on Lawal as he shielded the ball for Graham to head back to Johansson, so revisited that; part of 'The Impossible Job' talks about officials trying to do that to take the sting out of matters. But still, I think Stoke (we) got very lucky in this scenario.

With that early in the second half, it quickly become heated with lots of niggly, little fouls that saw Kitchen continually blow his whistle. I think he felt that would be the best way to try and keep a lid on things.

Stoke had two penalty appeals in the half - one for handball - I was unsighted and I feel it would have been on Kitchen's blindside, while there was a challenge on Graham that looked inside the box and could have been given.

There was also an instance of silliness between Bozenik and Kovacevic, where the Norwich GK shoved Bozenik to the floor. I was half expecting a card each - one for delaying the restart, the other for the push. However, Kitchen kept his cards in his pocket - again, it might have been to try to keep a lid on a tense atmosphere and stop things from bubbling over. It wasn't as forceful a push as Lawal's but still a reaction to a challenge all the same.

Overall, it was certainly a game of two halves with plenty of talking points. Kitchen was excellent first half and did his best to keep control in the second half. He's an official I can see the potential in, it's just being able to deal with tensions as they start to simmer.

I feel the cautions have been fine so far but one side has benefited from his decisions, with inconsistent foul detection.

Early on, Galbraith was chopped from behind, where Nield plays a nothing advantage with the ball with the Stoke GK and no option other than a long clearance. Should have been a FK, even Gary Rowett on co-commentary argued the Wolves man was lucky not to see yellow.

The penalty will split opinion but it looked like Jimenez jumps out of the way of Johnson with little, if any, contact. I've seen more wrestling at corners already this season with nothing penalised and that felt very soft.

As I started this, Soumare bursts through two Wolves players and has his ankles taken, right in front of the referee, who decides it's play on, when it's a clear foul.

Missed a blatant foul throw in the first half with Bueno's back leg kicking high into the air on the release to get the distance for a long throw. He's not keen to get the game restarted with the five seconds either, a couple of restarts have been lax.

Leek Town FC (First Team) v Emley AFC (First Team)
Northern Premier League - Premier Division   
Referee: Fox, Thomas
Assistant Referee: Winters, Harry
Assistant Referee: Eaton, Leo

A late recap of yesterday evening's match at a pleasant Harrison Park, which the visitors won 2-1 despite the hosts crashing two efforts against the bar in the latter stages.

This will be short and sweet as both teams got on with the game with Mr Fox able to keep a low profile. No cautions were required and, at a guess, only about 10 FKs for fouls were awarded.

There was a late appeal for a Leek Town penalty, which I believe was correctly waved away, as the defender simply outjumped the attacker and got off the ground earlier to win the header.

Other than that, Mr Fox kept the game moving and used the five-second countdown appropriately. There were two occasions when Emley took their time to retrieve the ball (one throw-in and one goal kick), so he was sharp to start a countdown when the ball was in place, which seemed to upset the visiting players and staff, but I felt he was well within his means after the dawdling.

There was one instance in the second half where he had to have a quiet word with one of the Emley staff after they felt aggrieved not to be awarded a free kick. But again, I feel the referee was correct in letting play carry on with it just being an instance of six and two threes between defender and attacker.

A solid night's work from Team Ref.

From pictures and match highlights, it looks like Tom Reeves took charge of Stoke vs Valencia yesterday.

Not sure if it was a commercial decision but Stoke wore their home kit in the first half then changed into their away kit for the second. Heard murmurs that the red and white against Valencia's pink made it hard to distinguish in the first half.

Not sure about the referee, but it seems incredible to me that two teams should get in excess of 100 points and one of them may not be promoted. I seem to recall that the same thing happened to York last season. No wonder they say the NL is one of the most difficult leagues to get out of, at least at the top.

Those in charge of the game seem happier to meddle with things that aren't broken - like giving 7th/8th in the Championship a play-off place - rather than do something that would help the sport. Fully agree that it should be a three up/three down - our resident Tranmere reporter might be relieved it isn't, as things stand.

In terms of the referee, you can see the merits of appointing a SG2 official, but think it could go to one of the leading NL referees. Not sure on where some of them are based but Elliot Bell, Ben Speedie, Tom Reeves and Martin Coy have all either had Championship outings or a cup final, so would be my guess.

Also, is it a game where you appoint a referee that allows it to breathe and allow for a bit of the occasion or choose a strict disciplinarian, like a Breakspear?

Oh dear - might have to retract my comment on the appointments thread about a safe pair of hands.

A poor first half in truth. Let a lot go, which he has been consistent with, but clear fouls (pushes/pulls etc), he's turned a blind eye to.

However, it's another game where I find myself asking why referees in this country can't spot SFP? Ben Whiteman very lucky only to see yellow for horrible challenge on Sorba Thomas - the latter lucky he didn't have his leg planted to avoid a serious injury.

Whiteman lunges in at speed and catches Thomas with his studs above the knee roll of the sock. One of Hallam, his assistant on that side or 4O (David Webb) surely must be able to see the point of contact given their respective angles. Preston fortunate not to be down to 10 men!

Fan view: A first Stoke penalty this season - at last!

Ref view: On the softer side but you can argue two defenders impact Cisse, with neither really playing the ball. Cajuste has his arm across Cisse's chest having misjudged the flight of the ball, while Kipre hand on the shoulder from behind. Can understand why he's given it.

Not sure if it was ever picked up but Kipre had a kick out at Smit off the ball in the first half that went completely unnoticed - there was no difference in that compared to what Sorba Thomas saw a second yellow for from Ruebyn Ricardo on Saturday, so we always bemoan a lack of consistency.

Overall, a draw a fair result on the reflection. Didn't think Ipswich had to do much for two of their goals - deflection & a GK error - but that's another story.  A solid showing from Kirk, but wish he'd have clamped down on dissent in the first half, especially from Azon.