Cup semi-final day

I have used a lot of common football cliches in these notes lately. "The game which had everything" and "a great cup tie" have both cropped up in the last few games in which I've been involved. For today's game I'm going to apply perhaps the most commonly used cliche of all - "the game of two halves".

More on that later. As Luke had assisted me last week, I agreed to run the line for him while he refereed this week. It would be the first time I had seen him referee, although he has seen me referee on several occasions. While I was busy putting in my contact lenses, he found us a game - and it was the Broadgate Park players from last week who recognised him and, being the home team, offered him the game which he duly accepted. When we got over to the pitch, the Hugh Stu manager seemed to want to referee half of the match, but was persuaded otherwise. In any case, Broadgate were the home team and Luke and I were both neutral. Broadgate's former sports sec was running the other line, and he has usually done a good job when he has done so in the past for me.

I said to Luke beforehand that cup semi-finals are often the most difficult games to referee. The final of the cup is within touching distance and to fall at the last hurdle is devastating. No-one remembers the semi-finalists, only the finalists.

Broadgate had had a good, hard fought win last week against Cripps. What kind of challenge would Hugh Stu present them? The Hugh Stu coaches were certainly psyching the players up for the game. I had never seen so much encouragement being offered, in terms of saying how much they should want to win and so on. It would be an interesting game.

It was apparent fairly early on that the two sides had completely contrasting styles of play. Broadgate were trying to pass the ball and release the two forwards who had done so well last week. Hugh Stu were a bigger, more physical side, with several taller players who would compete in the air, notably their captain. Rallied on by the large crowd on the touchline, they started much the better. In fact Broadgate seemed totally overwhelmed. It was a goalkeeping error which gave Hugh Stu their 9th minute lead - he let it go once but regained it before it was kicked in. Luke was well positioned and was sure that no foul had taken place - the keeper had not had two hands on the ball. Hugh Stu continued to dominate play.

It was midway through the first half that I felt Broadgate were starting to come back into the game. Even so, I couldn't really see Hugh Stu conceding, as they looked very firm defensively. Broadgate were creating a few openings, but without success until the 44th minute. It was a crucial goal at a crucial time, and a good finish meant they went in level rather than a goal down. They had perhaps not merited it, but it was a vital goal. Luke, for his part, had been trying to let the game flow, but the clash of contrasting styles was proving quite challenging. I thought he was doing a really good job, clamping down where necessary but trying to let the game flow. There had been no massively nasty tackles, Hugh Stu had had a penalty appeal but Luke turned it down. The Hugh Stu players and supporters were appealing for everything, even ridiculous decisions, but Luke was keeping his composure and doing well, even though he wasn't totally happy himself! I guess you get a different view from on the side to the one you get from in the middle.

The second half began quickly. Broadgate started much the better, and were rewarded almost immediately, taking the lead within three minutes of the restart. Indeed, they came out revitalised. This demonstrated the importance of that equalising goal before half time, which had changed the game. Hugh Stu were now falling apart defensively, and Broadgate's forwards were at last having some joy. The Hugh Stu defenders didn't know how to handle them, and this was demonstrated when the left back chopped one of them down cynically in the 54th minute. It was just in front of me, and I signalled the foul and tapped my chest to indicate that I thought a yellow card should follow, and it duly did (Luke had probably decided to book him anyway). It was a good clear yellow card at a good time, and probably helped calm things down somewhat. Things were looking good for Broadgate.

But one moment you're up, the next you're down in football. Just two minutes later, Luke was pointing to the penalty spot, and it was for a Hugh Stu penalty. Despite it being far away from me, I could see the clear foul, no question, although I wasn't aware it had been committed in the area. Luke was well positioned and the penalty was scored straight down the middle. 2-2, and game on.

Yet the penalty really didn't change things. It was still Broadgate who looked more lively, and within three minutes they were back in the lead. The goals Hugh Stu conceded were dreadful - typically mix-ups between the keeper and defence, and Broadgate were indeed having some one-on-ones which they couldn't convert, and the score could have increased still further. The game settled down for a little while, but you got the feeling Broadgate were going to score again. The trouble they caused the defence was demonstrated by the yellow card Luke gave to one of the centre-backs in the 73rd minute. The Broadgate forward had been hacked at twice already, with Luke playing the advantage, and by the time he was brought down by the third hack, he was on the edge of the Hugh Stu area. After checking with me on who the player was, Luke gave him a deserved yellow card. He was followed into the book by "Craig David" - the Broadgate number 2 who had been at the centre of things last week (but was noticeably quieter this week) for a late tackle, again correctly.

But Broadgate were not to be denied, and two quick goals followed in the 77th and 80th minutes, one of which involved their forward running through from his own half and taking the ball round the keeper to score. Sandwiched in between was the game's fourth yellow card, to a Broadgate midfielder for a late tackle. With the score now at 5-2 and only 10 minutes to go, it was now game over, and Hugh Stu were beaten and knew it. They could have conceded more in that last ten minutes.

In that time came one of the two amusing moments of the game. I had been running the line for the Hugh Stu defence all game, and had given only two offsides. Hugh Stu defenders were taking goal kicks (rather than the keeper), and weren't always clearing them well or moving back up the pitch quickly. From one such kick, Broadgate picked up the ball and passed it forward. The Hugh Stu central defender then appealed for offside against the forward running towards him! Astonishingly, so did some of his teammates! Simply bizarre! The other amusing moment had come in the first half, when one of the Hugh Stu coaches told his player to "stop flirting with the ref"!

Luke didn't bother to play any injury time, and with the score at 5-2 ended the classic "game of two halves". Hugh Stu's physical style had dominated the first half, but Broadgate's equaliser just before half time was crucial and they went on to have much the better of the second half in which Hugh Stu were nothing short of dreadful. I was pleased to see Broadgate win, because they were trying to play the better football, and when they did Hugh Stu either conceded a goal or just fouled them. A deserved win for me.

I thought Luke had a really good game. The clash of styles didn't make things easy, and nor did the constant shouts from the touchlines. He called things as he saw them, kept a lid on the game and tried to let it flow. He wasn't always successful, but that was down to the players and not to him. He got the big decisions right for me too. It wasn't an easy game, and the four yellow cards were probably needed to keep control. Overall, I thought this was a great performance.

The other pertinent question then - was he better than I had been the previous week?! Possibly (an economist never says yes or no to a question like that!). The games were different - this one was more challenging throughout the game whereas I had a couple of specific incidents to deal with towards the end. I think both of us can be happy with a job well done, handling the game we had in front of us as well as we could.

That is it then for IMS football until the New Year. I haven't been there as much as I intended to this term, but when I have I have enjoyed my refereeing once again. I think I'm approaching the more challenging moments with more confidence, and keeping control much better - I always used to be rather afraid of confrontation, whereas I felt happy with my handling of last week's incident. I am yet to show a yellow card this year, perhaps I should have done last week but I was happy with how I handled things. Altogether, it has been a welcome distraction from my studies and a really enjoyable way to spend my Wednesday afternoons. The League games will return in January following the exams. Bring on the next game!