RateTheRef

Colchester United FC (First Team) v Grimsby Town FC (First Team)
Football League 2   
Referee: Atkinson, Ben
Assistant Referee: Cresswell, Alan
Assistant Referee: Evans, Robert
Fourth Official: Bonneywell, Daniel

Unfortunately, for the 3rd game in a row, i’m a bit disappointed with the officials, this time with Ben Atkinson in the middle. I have to say that was a tough game to officiate - it was physical, lot of fouls, a team who were up against it for the last 35 minutes and were determine to drain every second they could. Well done to the officials for adding that time back on though (timewasting, injuries and “injuries”), which totalled over 13 minutes before the final whistle went. There were also 3 big decisions to be made, but only 1 was made correctly.

Ben got most of the fouls right but did get some wrong too, but that was at an acceptable level in my opinion. He manages dissent quite well, with at least 2 yellow cards to players and 1 to the Grimsby coach from memory. I did think Khouri was a little lucky not to get booked for repeated playacting though. He also should have booked Tovide earlier for getting wound up and had 2 or 3 nudges/pushes off the ball before he was booked. Overall, there was a lot of one side winding the other side up and Ben should have got a handle on this earlier, which might have made life easier for him as the game went on.

As for the 3 big decisions, the first one to give Green a second yellow was correct for stopping a possible Colchester counter. His first yellow was for something he said so he’ll be annoyed with himself there. However Lisbie also should have been sent off for a very similar foul to Green, arguably more clear. The fact that his booking (dissent!) came just a couple of minutes earlier might have (unjustifiably) saved him.

The most crucial decision though was a failure to award a penalty to Colchester in the 88th minute for a pull on Williams by Lavelle, as Williams was chasing to get to a rebound. Definitely a penalty in my view, possibly a red card for DOGSO too, a decision that may have altered the result of the game. I hope Ben looks back and learns from that one, he seems well placed to spot that.

A difficult game but the officials, especially the referee, should have got some things right that he didn’t. Grimsby excellently defending their box after the red card and probably deserved the 3 points all things considered.

It’s so bizarre - the ICC aren’t always reliable for appointments, but it’s literally a week and a half til the tournament starts! Surely they must be releasing the list soon!

He's going very wide, and I'd say that 2 or 3 of the considerations for DOGSO are in doubt.  Direction, the ball is going well away from goal. Defenders, as by the time he gets to the ball there's clearly a covering defender, and possibly control, is he clearly getting control, although I'd say he probably is.  All subjective, but with that many doubts there's no way VAR should be going anywhere near it in my opinion.

Well, if the Scottish FA and the English FA are using the same set of laws, then it casts doubt on the excuse given for not reviewing the Henderson handball in the cup final.

Martinez is an outstanding keeper but he is one of the worst cheats in the league.  Check ou the reaction of Konsa here to his antics.

https://www.instagram.com/reels/DT8Q_izjQGy/

Perhaps Konsa should have a word with his fellow "professionals" who are all capable of doing the same when it suits them.  His reaction is shared by many, but not many are innocent!