THERE were bizarre scenes in National League football on Monday when a referee blew the final whistle for a game early, and then played those remaining seconds AFTER the half-time break.
Maidenhead United were facing AFC Totton in the National League South on Bank Holiday Monday and played out a 1-1 draw in front of just over 1,000 fans at York Road Stadium.
The game between Maidenhead United and AFC Totton saw the ref play 30 seconds of the first half after the break Credit: Getty
However, fans in attendance were left scratching their heads at the start of the second half as the officials corrected a time-keeping error.
The two teams emerged following the half-time break, but after 30 seconds, changed ends.
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This was because the referee had blown the whistle to end the first-half 30 seconds early.
The teams were then told they would re-enter the pitch, play the remaining 30 seconds of the first half and then swap sides to start the second.
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A Maidenhead United statement communicated the situation to fans: “The first half was blown early…
“Once we re-enter the pitch we will play 30 seconds of the first half, resuming with a Maidenhead free-kick.
“We will then swap sides and start the second half…”
Maidenhead goalkeeper Jordi van Stappershoef got proceedings underway with a free-kick when the teams emerged to resume the first half.
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The ref then blew his whistle to end the first half and start the second.
The Maidenhead Advertiser reported fans chanted: “You don’t know what you’re doing!”
One fan seeing the stunning events on social media said: “The most bizarre thing I’ve ever seen at a football match, what the actual f*** is the ref on.”
A second said: “Farcical.”
A third added: “Is this for real? Astonishing.”
Another said: “Things you love to see… oh, no, wait, that’s ‘things you should never ever have to see’.”
A fourth said: “Wow.”
Including the Totton draw, Maidenhead have drawn three of their opening five league games, while losing one and winning one.
Meanwhile, Totton have won two, drawn one and lost two.
