ERQUY PERKY BUT REF GETS THE VOTE

The first round of the Cup is a big moment in any season, so today, a Sunday, when I was bored with walking along a pristine sandy beach bordering the French Atlantic, my researcher, yes the same Bill Rogers as yesterday, decided to look up the local football matches kicking off this afternoon. The serious games were too far away, so we plumped for Evron FC v Union Sportiv Erquy, two clubs near Val Andre, my holiday resort, and Lamballe, the home of Les Chevaux du Haras; huge horses of regal stature. It was West Sussex league div 1 standard, frenetic, passionate and short of a delicate touch. But despite the lack of finesse, the game panned out to a 0-0 draw after 90 minutes. We were hoping for a penalty shoot out but with minutes left, visitors Erquy, the bigger club scored and won. Sad for the home team that looked as though they might snatch a win. Amongst the chaos, the referee, he had no name and there was no programme, was superb. His wife on the terrace agreed that he stood no nonsense. Spot him in the red top!