Just when you think that referees can't get any worse.

Bangor City 1 The New Saints 2
Welsh Premier League

The pros were in town and I had total control over the club shop. Now I could sell everything and I attempted to. Due to my shifts I miss the gradual build-up of tension. I also usually miss the kick-off. Tonight was no exception but I also missed Bangor's first goal because I was looking for someone. They had left something in the shop, what a sense of duty.

By the time I took my place the situation was looking far from comfortable as TNS pushed Bangor back. As the half wore on TNS seemed to be displaying a different quality this season; a touch of the Rhyl factor had landed on Oswestry. Now that the more cerebral Andy Cale had departed the scene they seemed to have been moulded by the subtle touch of Brabin. Physicality became their language. I wonder if McKenna had noticed this from his lofty position on the TV gantry.

I bumped into some more German fans. They were off to Cardiff tomorrow as well, if their rugby shirts were anything to go by. Convivial greetings were exchanged, maybe we'd meet again tomorrow as stranger things have happened. Despite TNS'S muscular brand of football there was one notable absence, Naylor was on their bench.



TNS equalised, as one might have expected, but that doesn't lessen the fact that Lee Webber was lying just outside the TNS box, thanks to a challenge (not a foul though). Their professional attitude shone through as they simply passed the ball up to the other end and scored. Still it was all square at half time and it looked positive for the second half; we were holding out own.

After conducting a couple more business deals at half time I made my way up to the St. Paul's end. Naylor passed by me warming up, thankfully he was less voluble than normal, what a pro! As I deposited our takings with the treasurer I caught a challenge, one that bordered on assault, out of the corner of my eye. It was another indication of their robust style. Professionals can obviously manage to keep up their tactical plans throughout a match.

This approach was assisted by the inept referee. Bangor players were assaulted yet we were lucky to get a free kick never mind see a card. Then Bangor had a man sent off for a second bookable offence. It looked like he'd come into contact with the ball. To cap it all TNS scored their second goal, Wilde bundling the ball home. With ten players Bangor looked defeated.

However they still looked dangerous, every attack filled me with hope. We'd see a Bangor goal. If this is what professional football means then there's no point shelling out all that money, TNS looked ordinary, an ordinary pub team. The ire of the crowd rose as yet more decisions inexplicably went against Bangor. The match finished in an avalanche of four letter words and frustration. The score 2-1 to TNS. Refereeing standards had reached a new nadir.