Away v Haughton Rangers

Result - Reddish North End 0 Haughton Rangers 7

Team coach (James) views on the game:

A very difficult day today, played in appalling conditions with driving rain and a bitter and very stiff wind.
The pitch was also in terrible condition and had the appointed referee turned up, there is a good chance the game might not have started, with parts of the pitch saturated and the goalmouths boggy. Managing a side is a difficult task at the best of times and when, as Haughton Rangers manager did, you make every effort to ensure match officials will turn up and then they let you down it is very frustrating. I hope that today’s ref (who would have been paid £20 plus expenses) gets properly punished by the league. 

However, we all agreed to get the game started but it quickly became apparent that a number of our players were really struggling in the conditions. Chris had to leave after 10 minutes as he was shivering badly and at half time, three other players, including goalkeeper Callum, were distressed as they had got so cold and their parents did not want them to continue. Reece, who had almost gone numb in the first half, bravely returned for the second half (which we started with nine players), but when Aaron left the field shortly afterwards – another victim of numbness – we were down to the minimum number. Joshua had bravely agreed to go in goal and made one fine stop, but playing 11 against 8 (when your opponents are league leaders) it does not take Mystic Meg to predict what will happen. After Haughton had scored their seventh, and with Josh clearly in discomfort because of the cold, I pulled him off and the game then had to be abandoned as you can’t play with less than 8.  

I have nothing but praise for all the boys who gave their everything, and showed real spirit in such horrible conditions. The boys who stuck it out all the way through deserve particular commendation, they were a credit to the club, but I should make clear I have no problem with the boys who left at half time as they too had tried their hardest and it is understandable why they didn’t carry on. When all said and done it is simply a game of kids football and the aim is supposed to be for enjoyment.  

Credit too to Haughton Rangers, they are a good side and their players (and management) conduct themselves really well. There was no mickey-taking or name-calling when some of our players left, there was no gloating, and they deserve to be top of the league. One of their parents even offered to lend us players for the second half which was good of him (but against the rules) We all wish them well. Strangely this was only their second home game of the season! 

Should I have agreed to play the match? I can say with hindsight that had I known the wind would get up as it and the boys would get as cold as they did, probably not. But without a neutral referee such a decision would have led to complications, with possible fines and points deductions if we didn’t play, and it can be very difficult to argue against such things without an appointed match official in place. Also, as everyone was ready to go and there was no obvious disagreement with the decision to play (that I was aware of) amongst our parents, on balance I think the choice to play was fair enough. But this is another example of the difficulties of managing a side!  

Next week we are at home to the side currently bottom (Brendon Bees).