Match 10 - The IMS Cup Final

IMS Finals day is always a day I look out for in the intra-mural football calendar. Two years ago, we had an absolute goal fest in both the Cup and Plate finals - you can read about this in Tale No. 32 on Facebook (and I'm now on No. 161!). That day Broadgate Park beat Cripps 4-2 in the Plate Final, which I refereed, while Doug handled an even more dramatic Cup final, in which Sherwood beat Derby 7-3. Last year, it was completely different - I once again refereed the Plate Final, which saw Sherwood beat Raleigh Park in one of the worst games in my time at Nottingham (see Tale No. 94 for that). With the Cup final also finishing 1-0, it wasn't a great day of football!

So, what would this year bring? At the third time of asking, I got the opportunity to referee the Cup final between Broadgate Park and Newark, while Luke did the Plate final between Southwell and Lenton & Wortley. Which way would today's games go - to the drama of two years ago or the mundane affairs of last year?

We started late, and it was my fault - I forgot my boots! Realising with 15 minutes to spare, I rushed home to get them, with the result that both games started some 10 minutes late. There was a healthy crowd on the sidelines, with both teams having a good number of supporters for the big occasion. I must admit I quite enjoy the theatre of all the shouts and screams at me - it doesn't make a blind bit of difference to what I give! Anyway, we got underway, and it was soon obvious that the two teams were fairly evenly matched. I started off well enough - there was some argument over a few challenges which I was letting go but I was trying to give the game some flow. In many ways, the first half was the hardest part of the game in that respect, and by the time we reached half-time the players had worked out my tolerance level and adjusted appropriately. Both teams had opportunities, but it was Newark who took the lead thanks to a 25th minute own goal. In fact, Broadgate were trying to commit defensive suicide at times. I had tried to play advantage where I could, and although there had been some late tackles I was trying to give warnings rather than showing cards. At the same time, I was making myself hoarse with all the shouting I was doing! Half-time arrived, with the score still 1-0.

The first half had provided little clue of what a rollercoaster ride lay ahead of us in the second half. Broadgate were out of the traps quickest, although there was a bit of good fortune about their equaliser, as a free kick sailed straight through everyone into the net. Within a minute, it was 2-1, as Newark committed defensive suicide as well, and the Broadgate forward nipped in to score. Newark were shell-shocked, and Broadgate then went on to add two more goals in the 63rd and 67th minutes, giving them a 4-1 lead. The game looked all but over.

But you just never know sometimes! Within 5 minutes Newark had pulled it back to 4-3. Set pieces were proving very effective for them, and this was the case on one of the two they scored. Game back on, and there were still 18 minutes to go! My involvement in the closing stages was limited - the players were busy getting on with playing football for the most part. There were the usual controversies on offsides, but I felt I was getting most things right. Newark plugged away (although Broadgate also kept attacking) - this part of the game itself passed me by as I was concentrating completely on what I was giving. There had been several substitutions and a couple of injuries, and Broadgate were starting to time waste on goal kicks, so I knew I would have to add on 4 or 5 minutes.

Newark were getting desperate by now, but sometimes the scrappiest of goals can decide things. In the 5th minute of added time, a corner was floated in and they bundled it home to equalise and make it 4-4 - at the death! I watched carefully for any infringements but there was nothing wrong. There was a mass pitch invasion - it was like they had won the Cup! I didn't finish the game there and then because I didn't want it to seem like I had just waited for Newark to score - but a minute or so later I did blow for full time on an extraordinary second half. Lying ahead of us was extra time!

Luke came over at that point as the Plate final had finished - with Southwell the victors by 3 goals to 2. Luke had disallowed 2 Lenton & Wortley goals, so probably wasn't flavour of the month with them!

I got extra time underway, and the collections of supporters on the side remained to cheer on their sides. Having some kind of atmosphere at the game made it more enjoyable for me. Extra time was scrappy - at least the first half was anyway. Neither team could really take control of the game and little had changed by the time we switched round after 15 minutes. The second half though was more interesting. Both teams did try to go for it, with attacks at both ends, and it wasn't totally defensive. Meanwhile, there had been a succession of late tackles through the game which I had been letting go, but the worst came in the 112th minute as a Newark player caught a Broadgate player with a high and late challenge. It wasn't far off being a red card, but I settled with yellow (to ironic cheers from the sidelines). There could have been an advantage for Broadgate, but I took the safe option of blowing straight away. Five minutes later, a second Newark player joined him in the book after bringing down a Broadgate attacker on the wing with a tired challenge - he held his hands up in acceptance of the decision. Newark also had a couple of penalty appeals - the first I waved away swiftly; the second was more vociferous, but their player had been challenged and had then slowly brought himself to the ground. It was nowhere near convincing me, and may not even have been a foul - the defender might have got some of the ball. However, there could still have been a dramatic late twist - in the final minutes of added time Newark had a great chance to win the game as the ball was crossed in and neither of two players could get a header on target. A short while later, I blew for time on what had been an epic 120 minutes.

Luke commented that the pressure was now off me and firmly on the players as we headed for penalties. He stood on the goalline to check that the goalkeepers stayed on their lines. In keeping with the rest of the game, the shootout proved to be suitably dramatic! Newark missed their second attempt, but the next Broadgate kick was also missed, before the scores were levelled at 2-2. With Broadgate then scoring, Newark missed their next one, giving Broadgate an opportunity to win the game - which they couldn't take. With Newark then scoring, it was 3-3, and sudden death! The first two kicks (one each) were both scored, but Broadgate then missed. It was now Newark's opportunity to win it, but their captain couldn't take it, so the scores remained 4-4. When the next Broadgate kick was skied, Newark again had an opportunity to win, and this time their taker made no mistake, giving them a dramatic 5-4 penalties win. Both keepers had made some good saves in the shootout, so as always I felt sorry for the losing goalkeeper - he couldn't have done much more. Newark's win completed a double for the two Jubilee campus halls - with Southwell having won the Plate.

How do I sum that up then? Well, it has to be up there as one of the best games I have refereed in my time in Nottingham. It was unpredictable, between two closely matched teams, with a real sense of occasion created by the crowd on the touchline. It hadn't been totally straightforward to referee, although by half time I sensed I had done the work necessary to get the players on my side and it became somewhat easier. Certainly, it never felt out of control. Tackles did fly in, although as is often the case the two yellow cards came late on in the game. I didn't get everything right - and indeed I ignored plenty which I could have penalised. However, I did this both ways, and tried to ensure that we got a game, not a stop-start whistle-fest. My decisions didn't have an undue bearing on the result, and the game won't be remembered because of my contribution to it. In fact, I will look back upon it as a game which I enjoyed hugely and from which I can be hugely satisfied with my performance.

Indeed, it was another of those games which explains why I referee. I have just controlled probably the most important match in the IMS calendar, and helped to make it an entertaining game. If you want to get involved in football, then why not referee? The sense of satisfaction you get from controlling 22 players with only a whistle, two bits of plastic and your own character is great. It won't always be easy, it won't always go well, and you won't always enjoy it - but for me the good experiences far outweigh the bad ones and make it one of the most worthwhile things I have done in my time in Nottingham. Bring on the next game!