Originally Posted by WWMTD?
What a day!! I have honestly never played in a spectacle like that before in my life. Where do I start to explain? To start with there were no referees. No big surprise for anyone really and something that is to be expected in our league. No real issue here. The ressies kicked of right on time and the bloke who was refereeing was from simba and I have no issues with the job he did. Couple of calls that could go either way but that's what you get with any referee. The game itself was a hard fought game with our boys playing some of the more attractive football they have ever played. I was impressed with the end result and the way the game was played.
On to first grade lol
This was where everything went a little awry. We still weren't sure who was going to ref but the bloke who did ressies put his hand up again, I thought this was good...may have been a mis calculation on my part. Simba started with their usual enthusiasm, attacking the ball and pushing hard. I think it only took a few minutes before our right back had received studs to the back of his leg. Wow! Then it kicked off in the centre! All of us here are guilty of fouling a bloke on purpose, even if its just once, when you do it you put your hand up take the punishment and walk off...not these blokes. It was like when they fouled someone they felt they deserved a free kick for it or something? The tension just continued to increase with blokes flying in from behind and going straight through blokes in order to get the ball. When we questioned the referee why it wasn't a foul, it was because they were both playing the ball? On one occasion the ball was at the chest of our right winger and their back came flying through from behind and literally headbutted him in the side of the head whilst nowhere near the ball. Both went down, Simba wanted the free kick and ref awarded a drop ball... It came to a boiling point when for the third time our left back copped studs from the same player who then tried to stand over him yelling at him to get up and stop complaining.
This basically what continued for the entire first half (minus 4 minutes because the ref called it short for some reason) and we just couldn't cope, conceded a couple of goals and went into the sheds rather disheartened...the boys received a bit of a rocket but were given direct instructions not to involve ourselves in their style of play. I think the half time break was exactly what needed.
In the second half we were able to get back to playing our game and the pressure that we were applying was starting to take its toll on Simba. We got one back reasonably early and continued to push. With about 20 mins remaining is when the day turned from a joke into a full blown comedy festival! The ball was crossed into their box and headed by our bloke on back stick back in and their bloke hand ballied it. Ref called a penalty, fair call according to our bloke who headed back in, I personally was behind him and that is also how it appeared from my position. But not according to their player. Yelled screamed and carried on like a muppet, to the point where the referee sent him off. Just let it be known again is is their club referee sending their player off. Well the bloke started marching off, made it about halfway to the sheds and did a big U banger and came sprinting back on the pitch straight towards the referee. One of our boys stuck out an arm as he went past and grabbed him which allowed all their team to come grab him and march him back towards the sideline. Another U bolt and sprinted back towards the ref! They were able to grab him and march him off finally and we were all back our side of halfway. Then surprise surprise he came for another go! This went on for the best part of 5 minutes! Finally got back playing and as can be expected we were pushing forward and looking pretty good for a third and take all the points. Then the tackles started again! To the point that with 11 minutes to play (6 normal and the 5 for the bloke trying to be mike Tyson) the game was called off.
Like I said nothing I've ever played in before. All this time our coach Namwob could probably explain more but i believe was offered the opportunity of having a fight on the sideline lol
It was an unfortunate end to the day and we were just happy to get out without any broken bones, and at least a point that could be seen as the one that could have been. But if the full compliment of time was played we may have needed an ambo to take a couple of the boys home.
Yeh so that was our day... Did everyone else have a good round? Lol
