One of the referee's responsibilities during each match is to act as timekeeper and at the end of each 45 minutes of play he has to decide how much lost time to add on. The referee will decide on how much extra time to play mainly from delays caused by substitutions, treatment to injured players, misconduct and general time wasting.

As usual, not everyone will be in agreement with the referee's decision.

In a very tight game the side that is winning will try to delay the game as much as they can, whilst the team that is losing will want as much extra time as possible because of the alleged time wasting by the other side.

It is also possible for both teams to completely change their views about this issue during the same match. The team that was losing may score a couple of quick goals and, where previously, time was precious to them, they now reverse the roles and they now start to waste time to maintain their lead. Meanwhile the other side, now losing, require the referee to take action against their opponents because they claim they are now time wasting.

At the end of the game the side that is winning will wonder how the referee can add on so much time and they will argue that, as there have been so few delays, no extra time is necessary. However, the opposite view will come from the side that is losing, as they will be arguing that the referee has not added enough time because there were so many delays in the game.

The referee's decision will be based on the time lost through delays caused by substitutions. These can sometimes take over a minute each time especially where a number of players are substituted at once. Other delays will be caused by the treatment of injured players, the referee having to issue cautions or sending off players or as quite often happens in matches played in the local parks, delays caused where a dog runs onto the pitch.

Whatever decision the referee makes, he is often in a no-win situation, especially where the game is very close.

* Please log onto the Darlington Referees' Society web site if you wish to contact me with your match incidents, www.darlingtonreferees.freeserve.co.uk.