Marine Reserves 0 - 0 Maghull

Marine Reserves 0 - 0 Maghull (7:30pm)
West Cheshire Football Supply League affiliated to the Cheshire FA


Despite the lack of goals, this certainly was not a boring nil-nil draw. It had two teams playing to win with some hard but fair challenges and of course the odd mistimed tackle too. Both teams ended up sharing the points which on balance was the right result.


Goals:
None


Cautions:
57 mins Marine Reserves (C2: dissent by word)


Officials:
Referee: Myself.
Assistant Referees: David Seddon and Kenneth Noble.
Assessor: None.


Stats:
First Half: 47:06, 152 HRavg , 171 HRmax, 646kcals.
Second Half: 47:42, 142 HRavg , 164 HRmax, 592kcals.
Total: 1:34:48, 171 HRmax, 1,238kcals.

57.5 minute walk

Basically the old left knee was still giving me some grief, so I opted for a low-impact walk for 57.5 minutes.

I did however feel the knee afterwards. I applied ice treatment that same evening.

Poolside once again

On Friday, I felt my inside part of my left knee was quite painful and I found it difficult to walk.

I still did my Runcorn Town game - I felt my knee during the warm-up, however, I did find jogging and running easier than walking. The painful knee did become less painful during the match itself. After the match that evening, I felt my knee again.

Then the following day (Saturday) afternoon, I had my assistant referee appointment. Again I felt it in the warm-up, but the pain again was not too bad during the match itself. I again felt my knee that evening.

So, I rested on Sunday and again yesterday. I have been using ice treatment which appears to be working well. My knee has improved.

Today, I went poolside and used the steamroom and then put the Jucuzzi jets directly onto my knee. It is again much better.

Tomorrow is my birthday and I've got the day off work too. So, I'll treat that as another rest day. I shall then see what my knee is like on Thursday when I may consider a little run out.

Over 5,000kcals in one week!

During week commencing Monday 13th August 2007, I managed to burn up 5,173kcals in just one week's worth of exercise, beating my previous best by just under 2,000kcals.


Exercise:

Monday 13th: 338kcals
A slow Park Loop;

Tuesday 14th: 331kcals
Park Loop (Clockwise) in the drizzle;

Wednesday 15th: 1,302kcals (including warm-up)
Upton A.A. v Blacon Youth Club;

Thursday 16th: 801kcals
10km run with John;

Friday 17th: 1,275kcals (including warm-up)
Runcorn Town v Marine Reserves;

Saturday 18th: 1,126kcals (including warm-up)
Rossendale United v Harrogate Railway;

Sunday 19th: Rest day.


I think it could be some time before I get anywhere close to that amount of exercise in one week again.

Rossendale United 1 - 0 Harrogate Railway

Rossendale United 1 - 0 Harrogate Railway (3:00pm)
Norther Premier Division 1 North

Rossendale United scored just after 14 minutes. They later near the end of the first half were awarded a penalty kick, however, it was to be a poor penalty kick that went skyward way over the crossbar, requiring no action from the goalkeeper. They held out to win the match with the one goal.


Goals:
14 mins: Rossendale United


Cautions:
Rossendale United: 2 (Both late tackles), Harrogate Railway 1 (late tackle).

Officials:
Referee: David Holloway (of Fleetwood).
Assistant Referees: Terry Fox (of Warrington) and myself.
Assessor: Kevin Trowers


Stats:
First Half: 48:55, 133 HRavg , 159 HRmax, 546kcals.
Second Half: 48:39, 123 HRavg , 157 HRmax, 475kcals.
Total: 1:37:34, 159 HRmax, 1,021kcals.

Runcorn Town 2 - 1 Marine Reserves

Runcorn Town 2 - 1 Marine Reserves (6:30pm)
West Cheshire Football Supply League affiliated to the Cheshire FA

This match was played in a very sporting manner. There was only one bad tackle in the whole of the game which was a late challenge by a Runcorn Town player deep into the second half.

I spoke to this player informing him that had this been a different type of game he would have been cautioned, however, in context I simply warned him to watch his tackles.

Runcorn Town scored just after six minutes and later increased their lead 14 minutes into the second half. The football was played to feet and was a pass and move game. A great game to referee. Late on, with 9 minutes to go (well, 14 minutes with added time), Marine Reserves got a goal back. The final part of the game was frantic. However, Runcorn Town held their nerve and held out to win the match.


Goals:
6 mins: Runcorn Town
59 mins: Runcorn Town
81 mins: Marine Reserves


Cautions:
None


Officials:
Referee: Myself.
Assistant Referees: Mike Erskine and Mike Pritchard.
Assessor: None.


Stats:
First Half: 45:11, 147 HRavg , 168 HRmax, 591kcals.
Second Half: 50:20, 142 HRavg , 166 HRmax, 624kcals.
Total: 1:35:31, 168 HRmax, 1,215kcals.

Poolside rest

Considering that I am later this evening going to referee my third game of the week, I thought it would be nice to treat myself the steam room and Jucuzzi. So I did.

10km run with John

I met up with John at lunchtime today.

Considering that last week I worked four of my five lunchbreaks, working over in the evenings too. Yesterday I worked another lunchbreak, so I was owed some time back. That's why I said to John, "Do you fancy a longer run today?"

So, we planned a 9km-ish run that turned out to be just over 10km. The best part of the first 6kms were farm tracks with no road in sight. John passed comment on how good my route was, considering that this was his old stompping ground for so long and he never knew these particular paths existed. To be honest, neither did I - I found them using Google Maps.

It was an enjoyable run. As always it's good having a running buddy. About 1km from the end, John picked up the pace. My currently fitness level did not allow me to match him, so I simply maintained my existing pace and saw John go 100 metres ahead of me.


Start Time: 1:28 pm
Duration: 49:49 Park Loop
Distance: 10.03 km (6.23 miles)

Average speed: 12.08 kmh (7.51 mph)
Average pace: 4:58 per km (8:00 per mile)
Heart rate: HRavg 166, HRmax 175, and 801kcals

Upton Athletic Association 3 - 0 Blacon Youth Club

Upton A.A. 3 - 0 Blacon Youth Club (6:30pm)
West Cheshire Football Supply League affiliated to the Cheshire FA

This match was all one way traffic in the first half. An unnecessary tackle from behind by a Blacon Youth player in his own penalty area on an Upton A.A. player in the 19th minute when already one goal down did not help their cause.

The second half was more competitive, however, Upton A.A. had already done enough within the first 30 minutes.


Goals:
13 mins: Upton A.A.
19 mins (penalty): Upton A.A.
29 mins: Upton A.A.


Cautions:
38 mins: Blacon Youth Club (C1: unsporting behaviour: late tackle)
75 mins: Blacon Youth Club (C1: unsporting behaviour: holding)
78 mins Blacon Youth Club (C2: dissent by word)


Officials:
Referee: Myself.
Assistant Referees: Simon Bourque and Kieran Connolly.
Assessor: Bob Funnell


Stats:
First Half: 47:35, 142 HRavg , 165 HRmax, 586kcals.
Second Half: 49:02, 143 HRavg , 168 HRmax, 615kcals.
Total: 1:36:37, 168 HRmax, 1,201kcals.

Park Loop (Clockwise) in the drizzle

I must admit I felt stronger than yesterday, although certainly not back to my usual fitness level just yet. Still an improvement with a time of 21:09, some 50 seconds faster.

Also, the clockwise run tends to be a slower route than its anticlockwise version - don't ask me why, it just is!

I will probably run a short 2 mile distance tomorrow as I have got another refereeing appointment in the evening and then another one Friday evening, followed by an assistant refereeing appointment on Saturday afternoon. Yes, the football season is back!


Start Time: 2:02 pm
Duration: 21:09 Park Loop
Distance: 4.45 km (2.77 miles)

Average speed: 12.62 kmh (7.84 mph)
Average pace: 4:45 per km (7:39 per mile)
Heart rate: HRavg 164, HRmax 177, and 331kcals

A slow Park Loop

I am definitely struggling with my fitness-level at the moment... but then again my training has been interrupted through a couple of injuries and heavy work commitments, so not too supprising then really! You've only go to see my HRmax is very high for what would typically be a very easy run.

I went as fast as my heavy legs and VO2 Level would take me today, which was quite slow for my usual standard. Still, I put one foot in front of the other and kept going until my run was over. Apparrently that's what you need to do to get your fitness-level back again!


Start Time: 2:36 pm
Duration: 21:59 Park Loop
Distance: 4.45 km (2.77 miles)

Average speed: 12.15 kmh (7.55 mph)
Average pace: 4:56 per km (7:57 per mile)
Heart rate: HRavg 162, HRmax 177, and 338kcals

Ellesmere Port 2 - 1 Poulton Victoria

Ellesmere Port 2 - 1 Poulton Victoria (3pm)
West Cheshire Football Supply League affiliated to the Cheshire FA

This was my first refereeing appointment of the brand new football season. I must admit, I was a little nervous pre-match as you wonder if you're still a little rusty after the break. However, once the first whistle is blown, the nerves are quickly forgotten and you just get on with the job.

Both sides failed to test the keeper during the first half and it ended 0 -0. There was however a bad tackle by a Poulton Victoria player against an Ellesmere Port player for which I correctly cautioned.

Unfortunately the injured player had suffered a ligament injury to his knee as a result. He was taken away in an ambulance just before the second half had finished. I understand that this player will be out for approximately 8 weeks. I wish him all the best in his recovery.

Poulton Victoria immediately scored in the first minute of the second half and later almost made it two, but the ball struck the crossbar then bounced down without crossing the goal-line. Ellesmere Port then cleared the ball, went down the other end and equalised. Funny old game.

Poulton Victoria then pressed, missing chance after chance. One shot rolled past the post marginally the wrong side, whilst another chance saw a Poulton Victoria player miss from yards out with the keeper beaten. These missed chances were to later cost them.

In the third and last minute of injury time, Ellesmere Port had their first real chance since their equalising goal and they put the ball away. This was less than 30 seconds from time which proved to be the winning goal. Poulton Victoria should have won this game easily, however, Ellesmere Port stole all the points at the very end.

It was nice that someone from the Ellesmere Port club came to me at the end of the match and thanked me for the manner that I dealt with their injured player.


Goals:
46 mins: Poulton Victoria
69 mins: Ellesmere Port
90+3 mins: Ellesmere Port


Cautions:
17 mins: Ellesmere Port (C4: delaying the restart of play)
20 mins: Poulton Victoria (C1: unsporting behaviour: late tackle)
60 mins Poulton Victoria (C2: dissent by word)
90+1 mins Poulton Victoria (C1: unsporting behaviour: late tackle)


Officials:
Referee: Myself.
Assistant Referees: Andrew France and Jose Damiao.


Stats:
First Half: 50:51, 150 HRavg , 173HRmax, 688kcals.
Second Half: 49:45, 158 HRavg , 177HRmax, 734kcals.
Total: 1:40:36, 177 HRmax, 1,422kcals.

A Park Loop jog to test out the ankle

With my first refereeing appointment just over 25 hours away, I thought it best to test the ankle that was still not 100% mended. So, I jogged the Park Loop at a very sensible pace. Why...?

1. It was warm;
2. I had not run for almost two weeks;
3. My fitness level had dropped (just check my HR stats);
4. I was still unsure about my ankle.


The good news was that my ankle held out. I'm back at least!


Start Time: 1:24 pm
Duration: 22:36 Park Loop
Distance: 4.45 km (2.77 miles)

Average speed: 11.81 kmh (7.34 mph)
Average pace: 5:05 per km (8:10 per mile)
Heart rate: HRavg 162, HRmax 175, and 348kcals

Another walk for 44 minutes

Yet another walk to allow that ankle to mend.

I walked the 4.45km Park Loop and the extra 0.5km-ish to it and back again. My walk was just shy of 44 minutes.

26 minute walk

My ankle injury is a bit better, but not ready for running on. So, I went for another lunchtime walk for 26 minutes.

I've had a couple of injuries and a illness recently. I suppose it's best to get them all at once and have done with - well let's hope.

41 minute lunchtime walk

Due to my swollen ankle obtained last night, I could not really chance running, so I went for another lunchtime walk. My ankle is still swollen!