Memories of Referee Webster

Tyne and Weir based referee Colin Webster is set to referee Hereford United's League Two game at Bradford City next Saturday.

The Bulls haven't met Webster for just over three years and their supporters were not too pleased with his decisions that afternoon.

Back in early September 2006 Webster was in charge of a game at Spotland between Rochdale and Hereford United.

Everything pointed to a goal-less draw until the Bulls were awarded a penalty.

This from the Bulls News report:

Andy Williams won a penalty in the last minute of normal time, when he beat James Sharp to the ball and the defender felled Williams. Rob Purdie stood up in front of the off-putting home crowd, and converted cooly with a finish down the middle. United's away following of around 200 were celebrating wildly, which was to be expected as they were about to collect three point which they really hadn't deserved. That was, though, until Webster decided to level things up with a very harsh penalty decision.

A cross came in from the left, which Giles headed back to Tynan, who (just!) took the ball into his arms. No appeals were evident from the home side players, but the ref pointed to the spot. Firstly he seemed to signal that the decision was given for a shirt pull, then a moment later, he was signalling it was for a defender "pushing down" on an opponent. Gary Jones didn't mind though, as he levelled things up with what was pretty much the final kick of the game.

And to reinforce the above, a similar view from Glynis Wright:

But the biggest surprise Fate had in store for this particular encounter was to emerge just a couple of minutes before the full 90 was up. Williams managed to get the ball right on the edge of their box, then endeavoured mightily to carry his meaty goods further - but lost it, illegally, so the ref ruled. Coo, a Bulls penalty, and just before time, too! As Purdie stepped up "He's going to miss this," said my pessimistic other half, his depressed mood changing instantaneously for the better as the midfielder potted the 'pen', with all three points now looking ripe for the taking.

With the game now in time added on - FOUR minutes, and two of that already played by the time the ref managed to signal to the fourth official on the touchline - it just had to happen, didn't it? The most infuriating part, according to 'Im Indoors, was the knowledge that what happened next occurred in the FIFTH minute of a game that should have only run to four. Yes, you've guessed right - another bloody penalty, but this time, to Rochdale. And no - just like every other spectator in that away end, I've no idea at all why the ref gave it, or for what offence.

All may be revealed in the papers, of course, but until someone does shed further light on this baffling incident, I'll just have to put it down to a refereeing aberration on the part of the match official responsible. Rochdale had no trouble whatsoever putting that one away; as for the visitors, they only had time to return to the centre-circle; no sooner had they kicked off, the ref blew for full time. Angry, those away supporters? Too bloody right they were: and that wasn't all. Getting up to 'high dough' also were the Hereford players, who, seemingly furious regarding the denial of what should have been their natural birthright, decided to 'crowd' the ref instead. Didn't get them anywhere, of course, and the next thing I saw, Tucka himself was trying to restrain his players from doing something they might subsequently regret.

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