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Hachioji Park, Saturday 31st January
24 hours. Lots can happen in 24 hours. I surely will never forget 31st January 2009. The day started with me scheduled to referee 2 matches at Hachioji from 9 am. Wake up to the most delightful winter weather Japan has to offer. The second of 2 consecutive days of freezing rain and window shaking winds. A quick mail to TML to confirm what everybody already knows about the matches being cancelled due to a flooded pitch, but to my surprise the matches are going ahead. Damn! (enter more appropriate expletives here) would be my first thought after realizing I had to get out of my semi-warm bed to stand around in the late January rain at 9 am. Oh well, if Barbarians and Vagabonds are willing to play in it, I guess I can pile the clothes on and try to referee in it. So, reluctantly out the door and on my way to Hachioji. Pull up to Hachioji only to find what should have been expected, the pitch 90% under water. All I wanted at that moment was to be in my bed...A call to TML to let them know that the 2nd, 3rd and 4th matches of the day had a better chance of holding a swim meet than a football match. Even with Hibs meant to play the 6th and final match of the day, I was resigned to not having a match in the evening.
Straight back home for a hot shower and the news that since I don't have to referee then I get to go to the hospital for a check up with the missus. (more on that later) 3 hours spent looking at Where's Waldo books...
Home again and ready to catch up on lost sleep, but the rain had stopped and TML was not going to let Hachioji go unused. News was that Sala and Celts players were sweeping rain off the pitch and the last two matches were going ahead as planned. This meant going back to Hachioji and trying to get focused to play with only 11 players against a very scrappy Lions team. This is the same team that we drew with a few weeks ago and I think we all knew this was going to be another tough match. Half of the pitch was in good condition, but the other half had a pool on the edge of the box and wasn't going to be very helpful to our passing style. We defended the wetter end first and our defenders must have looked like complete fools with clearances going about 10 yards. The only advantage was that their quick forwards and wingers had to try to dribble through the same area. A pretty calm first half finished 1-0 with our new Peter Crouch-like forward, Ryan, finishing off a good move and slotting past the keeper. As usual, things picked up in the second half, with chances at both ends. The first main talking point was a good move by Lions where the ball was played out to the right side to their skillful Japanese mi dfielder. He looked to be through on goal, but was expertly cut down by the Hibs left back (yes, I'm the Hibs left back). The ball was somewhere in the neighborhood and the tackle wasn't high or particularly dangerous, but the Lions player made sure to make it extra dramatic with no less than 6 rolls after the foul. Lions players wanted a straight red, moaning about it being the last man and it being a 2 footed tackle. Not sure what they were watching, but I wasn't the last man nor was it 2 footed. Foul, clearly. Bookable offence, yes. Take your free kick and let's get on with the game. Predictably after the yellow card was given, the player that was fouled stopped his rolling around on the ground and took the free kick. Unfortunately, it wasn't cleared and a Lions player was first to the rebound and punished us for our mistake.
1-1 and Lions were clearly lifted after the goal.
Orlando was reminding his players that the game was still there to be won and Hibs were rocked back a bit by the goal. We did however start to get a grip on the game thanks to the tireless running of Andre, Tomo, Ryan and Kuni, among others. Hibs scored the next goal getting in behind the defence and sliding it past Orlando. The referee ignored the Lions claim for offsides, as they had no linesman. Shortly after we added a third, which finally finished the Lions off. Still time for 1 more to make the final scoreline a bit flattering. So, second half goals from Andre, Ed, and Tomo helped us get back to winning ways. The referee Paul did a great job with a tough fixture and will clearly be welcomed by the TML community.
So back home for the 4th time of the day and ready to relax, only to find out that my pregnant missus has starte d having pains in her stomach. To the hospital for the 2nd time of the day and the next time I would be going home as a father. In bed at 4 am, physically and emotionally shattered. What a day!
Lots can happen in 24 hours..
Report by Josh Schirmer
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