Well after taking the missus to work, sorting my two little boys out it was time to make the journey to Green Lane, although mild it was raining.
On arrival I was met with a nice cup of tea and I was also able to sneak in Norwich's 2nd goal against Tamworth.
Changed and out to the wet, muddy, pitch for kick off.
After having had a few words with players after challenges in the difficult conditions it was bottom club Southbank that took the lead. I can't remember the goal but then thats not my job .
Clifton then had to put a central midfielder in goal due to the keeper picking up what looked like a groin injury.
Gedlings 2nd goal came just before half time and this is where the Clifton players decided I just wanted to ruin a game of football. Unfortunately the Clifton centre half played Gedling onside, he was 4 yards to my left in between me and his own keeper, as i was standing looking at the touch line where play was developing. The Gedling player ran onto a through ball from in line with me. We agree he's onside yes? well the flag went up so I overruled it and it became 2-0.
Cue dissent.....of which one continued to shout at the top of his voice about my decision after running approx 15 yards to tell me. Before play was restarted I had cautioned 2 Clifon players for dissent.....well abuse really.
Half time 0-2
15 Mins into the 2nd half Clifton pulled a goal back direct from a corner and game on, or so I thought. My thoughts at this stage were to keep the next 10minutes in the game tight, ie. some advantages played in the first half wouldn't be, unless there was an obvious goalscoring opportunity. Gedling hit back 5 minutes later with 2 goals in 3 minutes making it 4-1 and killing the game dead. I then had reason to caution the Clifton replacement keeper and skipper for persistant dissent. He'd been upset since he ran into the back of me halfway through the first half for some reason even though I was running in the same direction, ok jogging in the same direction, he still couldn't see me.
A comment that made me laugh was by a Clifton player who halfway through the 2nd half accused me of wanting to send him off. Hello if I had wanted to send him off I would not have spent the 2nd half talking to him to ensure he didn't do anything stupid although if I was being assessed I would have been picked up on not issuing a 2nd caution and a red card for his persistant infringing. Obviously I wanted to send him off ?!?!?
Gedling made it 5 in the 88th minute, this was just after I had cautioned the 4th and final Clifton player for a late, reckless challenge.
On reflection my performance was good, fitness needs work on but has improved since the start of the season and the heavy pitch didn't help but I can see the reason for the dissent wasn't due to my performance but due to Cliftons frustration at getting heavily defeated by the bottom club and not playing as a team.
