Thurlow Nunn Premier Reserve League

Wednesday 16th April 2014

Walsham Res 1 Gorleston Res 2

   Walsham started on the upper foot, and Gathercole had an early chance saved at the near post by Gordon, before minutes later Cooke blasted over from the edge of the box. Gorleston looked dangerous going forward, and on ten minutes took the lead, when Roots broke through and fired into the far corner of the net. The visitors took control of the game, and doubled their lead on twenty minutes, when Watts took the ball around Walsham 'keeper lynn, and slid the ball into an empty goal. Watts had a further effort saved, before Cobbold's free kick was mishandled by Gordon, and Hammond saw his attempt cleared off the line. Before the break, Roots saw his great drive just clear the home cross bar, while at the other end, Virtue's header was deflected for a corner, and Gordon did well to block Cooke's shot.

   After the break Walsham were much more positive; Twinn was unlucky when his attempted lob just went over, Gathercole shot straight at the 'keeper, and Fletcher fired a loose ball over. Twinn had two further efforts go close, before the visitors got more into the match; Williams and Perfect firing straight at Lynn in the Walsham goal, before McElhinnes' header went just over. Two minutes from time the home side pulled a goal back, when Hammond scored from a tight angle at the far post, but despite five minutes of added time, and a lot of the ball, were unable to snatch an equaliser.

  To be fair, I thought that we played really well, some lovely one touch football, but not enough in the final third of the pitch. The big problem was, that Gorleston matched us, and had forwards who could really play with pace, as both their goals showed. Over the ninety minutes they probably just about shaded it, but that was still a good effort.

   Now my favourite subject, the laws of the game, officials and consistency. The following are general observations as not to point the finger and get into trouble.

  In a recent game, a player was cautioned and a free kick awarded for deliberately pulling an

  opponents shirt in no mans land in the middle of the pitch (probably the right decision according to the laws), in the very next match a player commits roughly the same offence but more robustly, and prevents the attacking team mounting a meaningful attempt on goal, free kick awarded, no caution.
 
  A linesman flags because the ball has not entered the field of play from a throw in, referee's decision, play on (incorrect), the throw in should be retaken ( I believe that the linesman in question got cautioned for making that point clear to the referee.
 
 
  A linesman flags for offside against an attacker going for the ball from an off side position, prior to him getting the ball he is fouled by a defender, referee's decision, free kick to the attacking team. Incorrect, a free kick should be awarded to the defending team and the defender cautioned if the foul merited one.
 
  An attacker is fouled by a defender, but carries on with the ball leaving the defender on the floor, controls the ball looks up and his cross goes over the cross bar. Referee's decision,
free kick to the attacking team, basically the defending team have been penalised for the forward not being able to cross the ball, rubbish.
 
  A player on the losing team is cautioned in added time for aimlessly booting the ball in the air, but previously in the same match a player is hacked down from behind and only a free kick is awarded.
 
  I make mistakes like everyone else, but it is frustrating and very annoying to be over ruled, or in some cases ignored completely, when the referee is plainly not in a position to judge the decision that I have made, why do they do that (answers on a postage stamp)?
 
  Only one referee in the past two seasons, has made me run the line on the right back side of the  pitch, at least he does it every time (now that's consistency, but why)?
 
  Lastly, David Ellary, a famous Premier League referee from a few years ago once famously said,  ' you cannot have common sense and consistency', spot on, what we all want is consistency, probably why he was a Headmaster (or is that Head Teacher to be politically correct)?
 
  If any budding, or not so budding, referees would like to take issue with any of that, then I am all ears,
 
  That's it folks
 
  KG