NOONECHRONICLESTHEACTIONBETTERTHANUS ROBINS WIN AGAIN

From the middle

Referees wearing body cameras

ASHORT while ago I mentioned that the FA were taking the unprecedented step of experimenting with body cameras to be worn by referees.

This was no small step and it had to be agreed with the International FA Board, the games law makers, before it could go ahead.

One hundred of these cameras were distributed to four different areas of the country to be worn at adult grass roots football matches.

It was hoped that these cameras would be a deterrent for the abuse, and even assaults that referees receive too often from players and club officials.

The early signs according to the FA are positive, as no user referee has found it necessary to activate their camera so far.

The camera is a clever piece of equipment. It does not record the whole of the match but when activated it will capture the last 30 seconds which will show the abuse.

The referee is not able to access the photos taken, nor can anyone else, so if any aggressor thinks they can open the camera and destroy the evidence, they will be disappointed.

Ciara Jolliffe, Laura Comerford and Katie Rebecca Sayer earned the win.

Eversley have a one-point advantage at the summit over Shinfield Rangers and have two games in hand.

SHINFIELD RANGERS soared to a 3-0 success over BURGHFIELD

Thames Valley Premier League

YATELEY UNITED maintained their spotless league form with their 18th win in 18 matches.

A double from Myles White meant that they took three more points with a 2-0 win at READING CITY U23s

BURGHFIELD and READING

Football

YMCA shared the points in their battle for third position.

Ryan Farmer, Will Vallins and Ollie Brown netted for the Fielders, while a double from James Bozarth and a goal from Hendrick Reyes Parades earned a draw.

A six-goal contest which ended 3-3 means Burghfield stay in fourth on 27 points, but with two games in hand over YMCA who are in third on 31 points.

Thames Valley Women’s Division One

ASCOT UNITED RESERVES still lead the way in the division after their narrow victory over MORTIMER

Amy Cogdon and Clodagh Farrell netted for the Yellas, while Beth Millican scored for Mortimer.

Ascot have won 12 of 15 matches which gives them a two point lead at the top and with a game in hand over closest challengers New Bradwell St Peter.

TILEHURST PANTHERS stay in the title hunt after their double header win over Slough Town.

A double from Georgia Hayes and goals from Charlotte Wheeler and Leah Why saw the Panthers win 4-0 in the first outing.

Tilehurst then followed that up with a 3-1 success. Deanna Cane, Hayes and Why were on the scoresheet

Tilehurst are in third on 31

KESTRELS OVERCOME 10-MAN COVE TO TAKE WIN

By MARK ROZZIER sport@wokingham.today

GOALS from Connor Suckling and Sid Gbla ensured that Woodley United overcame 10-man Cove to take three points in the Combined Counties Division One.

Woodley started in a bright fashion with midfielder Tahir Carmichael seeing plenty of the ball and instrumental in much of the early play.

United got the breakthrough in the 17th minute when pressure on a hosts’ short goal kick saw a cross into the penalty area that Mo Davies’ headed into the path of Connor Suckling to hit a low volley to O’Sullivan’s right and inside the upright.

Three minutes later Cove was reduced to ten players with Kay Hampson dismissed for violent conduct.

Woodley continued to be positive and extended the lead in the 25th minute when an unmarked Gbla headed Brandao’s corner kick into the goal net.

Within two minutes of the restart Tyler Garrett-Skinns had reduced the deficit with a shot from the edge of the home penalty area. points and have two games in hand on leaders Ascot.

United responded with Davies’ seeing a shot cleared off the goal line. Cove were playing a high line with three defenders which United looked to exploit on the counter attack and in such attack O’Sullivan conceded a free kick outside the penalty area in a rash challenge.

Gbla headed straight at O’Sullivan and the keeper was again penalised for a challenge when he brought Suckling down in the penalty area after the forward had shot at goal.

WARGRAVE scored six as they came out on top in a nine goal game against Harwell and Hendred.

A clinical display saw Millie Bilcliff score four, while Lara Branston and Beth William added to the score to confirm a 6-3 win.

Thames Valley Women’s Division Two

S4K BERKS COUNTY are one place off the bottom after they suffered a heavy defeat to Beaconsfield Town.

Grace Belstone and Megan Cox scored for the Fawkes, but they lost out 8-2 which leaves them on 12 points from 17 games.

The FA has said that referees wearing the cameras say it has made them feel safer and more confident and that players have commented that seeing the camera has made them withdraw from raising comments.

If it continues in this way, it will be extended next season.

As far as I understand, these will only be used in adult grassroots football and will be allowed as evidence at any disciplinary hearing.

A great deal of problems also happens in youth football with an extraordinary amount of the abuse coming from parents and coaches.

I often feel that if they too were recorded it may shame them into more appropriate behaviour. However, I believe that in some areas, meetings are being held with parents about their behaviour. That I would like to see expanded.

Despite Suckling finding the net the referee had blown for a penalty kick that Suckling put wide of the keeper’s right post.

Ryan Lewis put a shot over Sam Dabinett’s cross bar as the visitors pushed for an equaliser with United saw Marco DeSousa take a short free kick to Reuel Griffith and the winger running at the defence before passing to Ben Lambourne who put his shot wide.

The remaining five minutes were played out without incident with United relieved to take the win.

I remember watching an American video where a basketball referee, dressed in his referee’s uniform, addressed a room full of parents about similar behaviour to teenage basketball referees.

Just goes to show that football is not the only sport that suffers from uncontrollable parents.

I don’t know how successful that meeting was, but I remember when my nephew qualified for the Reading Schools under 11s team, my good friend David Downs in charge of the team, held a parents evening.

Tackling this same problem, he told them that if they abused the referees, he would ask them not to attend any more matches.

If they insisted on coming to support their son, he wouldn’t pick him for any more games.

Tough, but it worked.