Game 44 - Netherton 0 Stewartfield 7

29 May 10 - Beltane Park, Wishaw - U 12s Friendly. An rare game at child level on a pleasant Saturday morning. The kids and their supporters/parents were very well behaved. The game was 2 x 20 mins then 2 x 10 mins sessions. It was 0-0 after the first 20 then Stewartfield pressed on and scored 4 in the second period. They then added a few more and well deserved their victory. An enjoyable morning. 0 yellows and 0 reds

Game 43 - Donaldson 2 Clyde Rangers 3

26 May 10 - Loch Park, Carluke - NSLAFA Divisional Cup Semi Final (Linesman). Donaldson scored first and last but Clye rangers scored 3 good goals in between to go through to the final.

Game 42 - Shotts Victoria 4 Glenacre 1

24 May 10 - Tileworks Park, Stonehouse - NSLAFA Lanarkshire Cup Semi Final. Fairly low key game with both teams concentrating on the football although the quality wasn't great. Shotts were 2 up at the break which included the Glenacre keeper palming a long throw into his own net. Shotts went 4 up and cruised before Glenacre got 2 penalties in the last 10 mins. They scored the first following a handball but missed the second after a trip in the box. 3 yellows and 0 reds.

Game 41 - Finnart 7 Motherwell Phoenix 0

23 May 10 - Loch Park, Carluke - CDAFL Knockout Cup Final (Linesman). Finnart were 1 up at half time and strolled through the second half. As easy as the score suggests.

Game 40 - Carluke Hearts 3 Blantyre Utd 0

17 May 10 - Tileworks Park, Stonehouse - John Roan Cup Semi Final - NSLAFA - A decent sized crowd turned up on a beautiful night. I was a wee bit bit nervous at the start but went on to have a very good game. again, havin linesmen made a helluva difference as there were some very tight offside decisions that any ref would have had real difficulty calling. Carluke (who won Div 2 last week) were brilliant throughout the game. They scored early on and kept Blantyre (likely Premier Div winners) at bay. 1-0 at half time. Carluke continued in the same vein after the break and scored again to go 2 up. Blantyre's keeper came up for a corner in the last minute in a final act of desperation but the ball was cleared and the Carluke forward ran it home for the icing on the cake. I was well chuffed with my performance. One of the linesmen was very complimentary and a Carluke player said that he hoped that I would get the final (don't think that will happen). 3 yellows and 0 reds

Game 39 - Finnart 7 Motherwell War Office 1

16 May 10 - Loch Park, Carluke - Knockout Cup Semi Final, CDAFL - Other than the first 15 minutes when the teams were settling down, it was one way traffic. The war Office opened the scoring afetr about 10 mins and 5 mins later Finnart equalised. Thereafter, Finnart dominated and went 3-1 up at the break and ran away with it in the second half. It was good having linesmen there to assist with the offsides. 2 yellows and 0 reds.

Game 38 - Mill Utd 3 Overtown Th 0

10 May 10 - Stonefield Park, Blantyre - NSLAFA. Low key affair as both had nothing really to play for and Overtown were protecting players for a League Cup final this coming Friday. Mill Utd were by far the better team and were 2 nil up at the break. They missed a penalty before adding a third and the game petered out with no incidents of note. 0 yellows and 0 reds

Game 37 - MLS Leeds 4 Bellshill Derby 3

5 May 10 - Tileworks Park, Stonehouse - NSLAFA. Derby were cruising at 2-0 after 25 mons and Leeds never looked in it but they got a goal back before half time. They were a different side in the second half and were 4-2 up before Derby got their 3rd with 5 mins to go. 2 yellows and 0 reds.

Game 36 - Motherwell Bridge 1 Bellshill Derby 4

1 May 10 - Craigneuk Park, Airdrie - John Roan Cup QF. Decent game. Bridge capitalised on a misjudged through ball by the Derby keeper to go one up. Bellshill came back into it and went 2-1 up at half time. The second half was more scrappy and Bellshill scored 2 in the last 3 minutes to go through to the semis. 2 Bellshill players got booked for dissent but other than that no incidents of note. 2 yellows and 0 reds.

Game 35 - Woodhall Th 0 Shotts Victoria 2

28 Apr 10 - Keir Hardie SC - NSLAFA. Half decent game which was tight thoughout. Nothing much between the teams as they reached half time at 0-0. Neither keeper had really been tested. Shotts improved the most in the 2nd half and the best move of the game saw them go 1 up before a penalty for a push in the box 9 minutes from time gave them their second. It was an enjoyable game with both teams only interested in football. 3 yellows and 0 reds.

Game 34 - Bullfrog 2 Strathaven Dynamo 4

15 Apr 10 - Victoria Park, Newmains - CDAFL. A good game with Strathaven playing some good passing football. They deservedly were 2 up at half time but Bullfrog came out like a train and were level within 10 minutes of the restart. It was nip and tuck for a while but gradually Strathaven took control and scored 2 more for a good win on a lovely sunny evening. 4 yellows and 0 reds

Game 33 - Carluke Kirkton 1 Motherwell Phoenix 0

11 Apr 10 - Kildare Park, Lanark - CDAFL Knockout Cup. The game was played on a very hot day and it was due to be played to a finish. There wasn't much between them and it took a last minute header to save us going to a dreaded extra time period. 1 yellow and 0 reds.

Game 32 - Claremont 11 Lanarkshire Deaf 0

10 Apr 10 - Brancumhall -NSLAFA - The Deaf turned up with only 8 men. It could only end up as a rout and it did. Claremont are a young side and really didn' t have a clue how to make the most of their advantage. It was played in a good spirit. 0 yellows and 0 reds.

Game 31 - Wishaw Central 1 Lesmahagow 1

8 April 10 - Carluke & Dist - Beltane Park. An awful game of football. No quality anywhere except for a Lesmahagow player who was quite skillful. Neither team passed the ball and it was kick and rush for the whole game. I should have sent off the Wishaw No 5 but opted for a yellow (a definite mistake) in the second half. It was already 1-1 by then but it got towsier as the second half went on. I ended up with 7 yellows and 1 red. The red was for 2 yellows for dissent (Lesmahagow No 7) - the second came as we walked off the pitch at the end.

Game 30 - Carstairs Utd 1 Commercial 1

21 Mar 10 - Lanark Racecourse -Carluke & Dist League. A good competitive game but not much goalmouth activity over the piece. 0-0 at half time and it looked as though it could easily end up that way. Carstairs scored a very good goal and then hit the post and had one cleared off the line but they couldn't close it out. Commercial kept plugging away and scored in the last minute. 0 yellows 0 reds.

Game 29 - Woodhall Th 4 Mill Utd 0

20 Mar 10 - Keir Hardie Holytown - NSLAFA - Woodhall won as comfortably as the score suggests. They were 2 up in the first 10 mins and Mill Utd offered nothing in attack. The second half followed the same pattern as Woodhall scored another 2 without reply. Having done Mill Utd before I expected more from them but they were outclassed. 1 yellow 0 reds.

Game 28 - Overtown Th 4 Mossend 2

13 Mar 10 - Overtown - NSLAFA - A good game that flew by really quickly. Overtown were never behind in the game and moved from 1-1 at half time to 3-1. Mossend scored a screamer and then missed a great chance to equalise before Overtown sealed the points. 0 yellows and 0 reds.

Game 27 - Strathclyde Business Park 3 Motherwell War Office 8

7 Mar 10 - CDAFL League Cup 1/4 final - Strathclyde started very well and went a goal up in the first few mins. They missed about 3 one on ones with the keeper and had a decent penalty claim denied. After about 20 mins they lost their way and were 5-1 down at half time and the game was over. 3 yellows 0 reds

Game 26 - Wishaw Wycombe 6 Quarter 0

7 Mar 10 - LFDA U16s - King George V. A rare venture back into boys football. Really straightforward game with Wishaw winning easily with 3 goals in each half. 0 yellows 0 reds

Game 25 - Milton Rovers 2 Commercial 3

14 Feb 2010 - Carluke Dist - Moor Park, Carluke. This was played on a very tight park but both teams tried to play football although the quality at some points wasn't great. Rovers were 1 up at half time but were 2-1 down 10 minutes after the restart. Commercial made it 3-1 before Rovers pulled one back. 0 yellows and 0 reds

Game 24 - Netherburn 1 Thorniewood 7

13 Feb 10 - NSLAFA - Larkhall. Not a bad game. Thorniewood were 3-1 up at half time but scored 2 in the opening 4 minutes of the 2nd half to finish it as a contest. They coasted and scored a couple more with 3 Netherburn bookings for tackles. 3 yellows and 0 reds

Game 23 - The Red Star 3 Hamilton FP 8

7 Feb 2010 - Carluke & District - Ferniegair. An enjoyable game played in the right spirit by both teams. Hamilton were 6-2 up at half time. the game tightened up after the break and there was only one incident of note which resulted in a yellow card. Withabout 5 minutes left, a Red Star player lashed out with a kick in frustration but as the spirit of the game was so good, I felt that a yellow sufficed although he really couldn't have complained if I had produced a red. 1 yellow 0 reds

Game 22 - Carluke Hearts 3 Greenlaw 1

6 Feb 2010 - South of Scotland Cup 3rd Round - Lanark Racecourse. A decent game. Carluke were 2-1 up at half time and stretched their lead shortly after the break. Greenlaw (from the Borders near Duns) didn't really look like getting back into it although they did get a penalty in the last 2 mins but they missed. Carluke claimed for about 4 penalties during the game but none were awarded. 1 yellow and 0 reds.

Game 21 - Bridges Bar 3 Srathclyde Business Park 2

24 Jan 10 - Carluke & District - Wishaw SC. Decent game played on 3G surface. Bridges were one up then 2-1 down before getting their win. 2 yellows 0 reds.

Game 20 - Carluke Hearts 15 First Base Dynamo 1

23 Jan 10 - South of Scotland Cup - 2nd Rd - Lanark Racecourse. I originally had this tie at the beginning of Decmeber 09 but it was cancelled and then my Scottish Cup tie took precedence so i assumed it had been re-assigned to another ref. But no! Anyway it was as one sided a game as I'll ever referee. 9 nil at half time but fair play to First Base (from Dumfries), they kept going and played their best. They scored a last minute penalty as a consolation. 0 yellows 0 reds.

Game 19 - Glenacre 8 Bargeddie Utd 1

5 Dec 09 - NSLAFA - Burnhill Sports Centre. The pitch was just playable and Bargeddie turned up with only 11 men and clearly they had issues as they often had running arguments with one another. At half time they were 3-1 down. Then 10mins after the break, I gave a straightforward offside against a Bargeddie player. He kept saying "Are you having a laugh?" I got fed up with this and booked him. As he was walking away, he very clearly and loudly said "Fuck off" for which he received a 2nd yellow - he was off. Well it all went downhill rapidly from then on. They lost their discipline and the abuse started. After one goal, one of their players asked how many needed to be sent off to get the game abandoned. By this time one of their players walked off after another blazing row. They were down to 9 men and getting desperate. I decided that I would take the abuse (and there was a lot of it from 2 of them in particular) and smile rather than give them the opportunity for an abandonment. That really riled them. 4 yellows and 1 red - every one for dissent.

Game 18 - Thornwood 4 Calderbank 2

29 Nov 09 - Nethercraigs Sports Complex - Sunday Amateur Trophy 3rd Round. 1st attempt on 22 Nov postponed due to waterlogged pitch. Started off a decent game with good football from both sides. Thornwood turned around at half time 2 up but the second half became more eventful as the Calderbank side got much more lippy and resentful as they didn't get a couple of decisions their way. This culminated in their No 14 shouting out very loud that I was a fucking ride. A straight red for his troubles. This finished off a very very eventful weekend. 5 yellows and 1 red.

Game 17 - Livingston AFC 1 Camelon Th 2

28 Nov 09 - Holmes Park, Broxburn. East of Scotland Cup 3rd Round. Eventful!! 8 cautions, a mass brawl and pitch invasion and a personal insult from the Livingston officials. Camelon were 2 up in the first 25 minutes and look good to win fairly comfortably although they weren't a great side. But the sides of each park (particularly Livingston) were vocal and loud. They shouted against every decision and I think this got to the players. There were some meaty tackles but nothing more than you'd expect from any amateur game. Then the Livvy officials shouted that I should have fuckin seen an incident through my good eye. I was livid. I told them they'd be reported then minutes later after an innocuous looking challenge, it all kicked off with the Livvy sidelines on the pitch and one of their supporters punching lumps out of a Camelon player. I threatened to abandon the game but the last half hour was actually ok despite a few more bookings. I was exhausted afterwards. 8 yellows 0 reds

Game 16 - Bellshill Derby 6 Menzieshill Athletic 2

21 Nov 09 - Keir Hardie, Holytown. Scottish Cup 3rd Round. This looked as though it would be a close game after the first 15 mins. Athletic (from Dundee)moved the ball really well and went one up when a clearance up the park was completely misjudged by the Derby keeper. However, within a minute Derby equalised and at half time were amazingly 5-1 up as they rolled over a deflated Athletic side with some decent quality play and a couple of really good goals. The second half never reached the same levels as the first and there were 2 cautions for fouls in an otherwise very sporting game. I was pleased with my performance. I thought my work rate and concentration was very good throughout. I need to keep up a high level on a consistent basis. 2 yellows, 0 reds

Game 15 - Carnwath 0 Mount Vernon 4

31 Oct 09 - Paterson Trophy NSLAFA - Carnwath. Mount Vernon fully deserved their win. Better organisation and a far superior forward line gave them 2 goals in each half. The game was fizzling out when I had to give a straight red to the Carnwath No. 4 for a terrible tackle of an Mount Vernon forward. I learned my lesson from my last Scottish Cup tie and produced a red much to the surprise of the player but to me there was no question. My groin went again just after an hour and there were times when it was very painful but I managed to see it out. 1 yellow, 1 red

Game 14 - M'well War Office 4 Carluke Kirkton 0

18 Oct 09 - The Loaning - Knockout Cup. War Office were the better side and won each half 2 nil. 2 were in the book for squaring up to each other, another for dissent and one for a late tackle. It was actually a decent game to referee as both tried to concentrate on playing football. I thought I might have a problem with my groin after yesterdays game but I slapped on plenty of deep heat and it seemed to do the trick. I'll give next weekend a miss to give it a chance to settle. 4 yellows 0 reds

Game 13 - Rutherglen 1 Templeton Albert 1

17 Oct 09 - Burnhill Sports Centre - Scottish Cup 2nd Round. Close game with Albert the better side in the first half and reaching half time a goal up. Rutherglen came back into it and scored a goal when I judged it to have crossed the line following an attampted clearance on the line from a goalward header - Albert players disagreed. I should have sent off a Rutherglen player for serious foul play but opted for a yellow. I think that was wrong in hindsight - the tackle was very poor. I pulled my groin afetr half an hour but managed to see the game through. 3 yellows 0 reds

Game 12 - Milton Rovers 0 Finnart 5

11 Oct 09 - Moor Park, Carluke. Finnart were a class apart as they passed Rovers to death. Their touch and movement were so much superior to a poor Rovers side. A minute into the second half there was a serious injury to a Rovers player and they game was held up for 15 minutes while his leg was stabilised and an ambulance called - it was a suspected broken leg as he landed awkwardly. Only one yellow and 0 reds.

Game 11 - Erskine Bridge 0 Thorn Athletic 7

10 Oct 09 - Miller St, Johnston - This was a 2nd round Scottish Cup tie and I thought I had one of my best games as a ref. It was a great day for football and I covered an awful lot of ground as I made a real attempt to keep up with play throughout the game. I came off sweating profusely. This is my benchmark performance so far. I must strive to maintain that level of fitness and performance for the rest of the season. As regrds the game itself, Thorn won quite easily. It was a decent game played in a sporting spirit by both teams. It was 3 nil at half time and the game was well over before Thorn racked up the rest in the second half. 1 yellow for persistent fouling, 0 reds.

Game 10 - Commercial 0 Carstairs 4

4 Oct 09 - King George V - Two poor teams on the day. Quality severely lacking throughout but Carstairs were better and deserved their comfortable win. It was over by half time as Carstairs were 3 up and I only had one yellow card at that point. But things got towsy in the 2nd hlaf and I had a further 6 in the book and the Commercial keeper sent off for handling outside the box. 7 yellows and 1 red

Game 9 - Carstairs 5 Bullfrog AFC 2

20 Sep 09 - Monteith Park, Carstairs. A good game played in a good spirit in a lovely setting. Not much between them in the first half and Bullfrog scored a minute before half time to go in 1 up but the wheels fell off in the first 5 mins of the 2nd half when they went 2-1 down. Bullfrog never recovered and Carstairs ran out comfortable winners. I was very pleased with my own performance. I had a couple of quiet words in ears but there was no need to show any cards. 0 yellows 0 reds.

Game 8 - Wishaw Ams 4 Motherwell Bridge 1

19 Sep 09 - Bonkle Park - 2 quotes from the end of this game - "You are easily the best ref we have had this season" from 2 Wishaw Ams officials. "You'll get better as the season goes on cos you can only get better" quote from M'Well Bridge player. Ah the joys of being a referee!!!
This was my first game for the newly formed North and South Lanarkshire AFL. This was a good hard game played fairly throughout. Wishaw were the better team and had a much more dangerous forward line. They were 2 up at half time and went 4 up before a late Bridge consolation. 1 yellow and 0 reds.

Game 7 - Dykehead 1 Stewart Inn 4

13 Sep 09 - Salsburgh. Stewart Inn were the better side and fully deserved the win. 2 yellows and 0 reds.

Game 6 - Strathaven Dynamo 8 Cottage Inn 2

30 Aug 09 - Tileworks Park, Stonehouse. My first game for the Carluke and District League which is a Sunday afternoon league. Dynamo won in a canter. 1 yellow and 0 reds.

Game 5 - Hamilton 5 Jerviston 3

26 April 09 - Hamilton Palace. Under 13s game which was straight forward and without incident. 0 yellows and 0 reds

Game 4 - MLS Leeds 3 Mill Utd 5

31 Jan 09 - Priory Park. Good hard physical game. Mill Utd always had the edge although I did give a controversial goal to Mill utd when the MLS keeper dropped the ball apparently over the line. I felt sure at the time it was in but now I'm not so sure. Safe to say MLS Leeds plaeyrs were not happy. An MLS full back received a straight red for lashing out in frustration late in the game.

Game 3 - Mount Vernon 7 Carfin Harp 4

17 Jan 09 - Stepford Rd - Goal fest and Carfin Harp are a bunch of moaning weans. It was 2-0 Mount Vernon then 2-2 then 4-2 Mount Vernon at halftime. Within 10 mins of the restart it was 4-4 then Mount Vernon finally pulled away. Carfin and the manager moaned constantly. 5 yellows and 0 reds

Game 2 - Livy Thistle 0 Dalkeith Miners Welfare 9

22 Nov 08 - Craigswood Sports Centre - Miller Cup tie in West Lothian. First game back in over a year and I was pleased with the performance. The game was played in a good spirit with both teams trying to play football. Even with the gulf in class, it was pleasing to see Livi Th keep their discipline and focus on football. 0 yellows and 0 reds.

Game 1 - Symington Tinto 0 Motherwell Miners 3

21 July 07 - Friendly - First game fo all concerned as part of pre season preparations. Miners were impressive and won well. For my part, I was pleasantly surprised at how well I slipped back into it and my fitness was not as big an issue as I thought, but I still need to lose a few pounds. 0 yellows 0 reds