Grr! Argh! Ref!

What a strange couple of days referees have had at Rockingham Road. Last Tuesday's Ref booked everyone in a red shirt, up to and including at least 20 supporters for any slight infringement. In the interest of balance he also spoke harshly every time an Oxford player killed one of our forwards.

Saturday's Ref against Wimbledon was almost the opposite. He let the game flow and was reluctant to go for his card. In fact, for 80 odd minutes he was pretty good, which says a lot when he has given a penalty against your team.

And then the handball. He had a good view of the prolonged piece of juggling. He considered for a moment, and then deemed the action of the 'Dons defender to be within the rules and waved play-on. The grateful 'Dons player continued to get the ball under control with his arm for what seemed like another half an hour, much to the chagrin of the baying Cowper Street end.

So another Ref leaves the pitch with a security escort and runs the gauntlet of the Main Stand moaners. Ah well, he almost made it through 90 minutes!

Mind you, we'd have needed a penalty to get back into this game. Considering we had the vast amount of possession against a very poorly organised Wimbledon, we faffed far too much, in an almost Morrell-style fashion. Enough of the fancy flicks! "Hit the f*cker", as the lady close to me opined during one tense moment of play, and who could argue?

The Wimbledon defender finally subdues the bouncing ball