‘Referee has an absolute nightmare’ as moment of madness derails Dorking’s title race

‘Referee has an absolute nightmare’ as a moment of madness derails Dorking’s National League South title race at the weekend.

It took place with the scoreline 2-1 in Dorking’s favour, with six minutes to go. But in the 12th minute of added time, Bath City drew level.

The result left Dorking sitting 5th with 79 points from 43 games played, and 4 points behind the league leaders with 3 games remaining of the regular season.

BunchOfAmateurs tweeted along with the clip: “One moment of refereeing madness has derailed a title race and left a key player banned for the biggest game of the season. 😡😤”

WHAT HAPPENED IN THE INCIDENT

Narrator: “Dorking Wanderers are two one up away to Bath City with six minutes left on the clock when the ball goes out of play near the edge of the Bath penalty area.

“Even though it gets hooked up the line, the linesman gave the throw in from the initial header out from Jack Batten.

“As the Bath bench deliver the ball to where they agree it should be. Something that the bath manager says gets gets the referee’s attention.”

“And the man in the middle strolls over to spend a full thirty seconds talking to Gaffer Darren Way, while long throw in specialist Josh Taylor waits to take the throw in, standing next to the referee’s assistant, we might add.

“Once the ref strolls back into position, having forced everyone to wait the best part of a minute to take the throw in, he inexplicably decides to move Josh back 25 yards towards the halfway line, overalling a linesman who was literally standing next to where the ball went out when it went out.

“Now Josh Taylor is a sense midfielder, and he’s only on throw ins when they’re supposed to reach the penalty area, which means the throw is now in the winger territory, and Mark wants Matt Briggs to take it.

“The fourth’s explanation misses the nuance that the centre midfielder doesn’t take throw ins near the halfway line.

“When Marc pretty politely asks the referee to rescind his decision, the man in black dishes out another card. And to think, if he’d listened to his lino, absolutely none of this would have happened.”

One moment of refereeing madness has derailed a title race and left a key player banned for the biggest game of the season. 😡😤 pic.twitter.com/uw5ti5Idci

— BunchOfAmateurs (@bunch_amateurs) April 13, 2025

MARC WHITE HAS HIS SAY HAS VIDEO GOES VIRAL

With the video blowing up online, getting over 2 million views at the time of writing, Dorking boss Marc White tweeted via the club’s account, saying: “Any real footballing people get how bad this is, I’m gutted for Josh, his team mates, the fans and the game! – MW”

He added: “Real football fans (including rivals) once again showing that it’s the fans that keep football going, the support we have had has been unbelievable, thank you!

“Read the comments from the 3 million views of yesterday’s injustice to understand how the whole game from top to bottom is fed up with officiating in this country. The game deserves better, thanks for all your support. Our lads really appreciate it – MW.

Twitter user Tom boardman (@tucker004) commented: “Once you’ve done with publicly humiliating the Referee can you check how he’s doing? I’m a big fan of the mental health work clubs do but I can’t stand how this message is forgotten about when it comes to match officials. You’ve had your moan. Enough!”

To which Marc White replied: “Tom – don’t be so brainwashed. The majority of jobs in life come with accountability, footballers (and Managers) especially get judged week in week out and with them it really does get personal.

“My thoughts are with my players and especially the lad who got the second yellow card. He is devastated, try and dig deeper in life, Tom – MW.”

SOCIAL MEDIA USERS HAVE THEIR SAY ON INCIDENT

Absolutely pathetic framing from this account and Dorking.

He got a second yellow for time wasting. The #8 was next to the taker, and then proceeded to run away. The ref has no other option as #17 has unnecessarily delayed the game.

Add this view in your doc @bunch_amateurs 👋 https://t.co/YUuuz2vlwt pic.twitter.com/DV91FNcTW2

— ben (@benhatton) April 13, 2025

‘Referee has an absolute nightmare’ – Quite the reaction was sparked online over the much talked about moment of madness, which derails Dorking’s title race and sees a key player unable to play in the biggest games of the club’s season…

@NewickFC: But surely if the ref pushed him back 25 yards – it should have been a Bath City throw as Camp cleared it out? @DorkingWDRS

@riskyrichisaac: Whilst the throw in is clearly taken from the wrong place, the yellow was the last straw in Dorking’s time wasting. No reason he couldn’t have taken the throw. Also should have had a 2nd yellow before for handball

@scottdavies1988: Away from home, 2-1 up, ref onto you for time wasting, we all know you can’t hold up play and hand the ball over to your team mate to take the throw when you’re in position to take it. They love getting us for that one! We’ve been done many a time. Not saying it’s a yellow btw…

@Jimmaay1993: The irony of them officiating a team sport and not working as a team. I really don’t understand the value of Linesman at the moment in non league, they seem to only make up the numbers and wave their flag once the man in the middle makes a decision

@dwfc_ben: Pathetic from the ref. Absolutely nothing Josh Taylor could do about that

@ChrisSearch6: The standard of officials is awful, but it’s the character of these officials that’s laughable! Majority are probably virgins and 💯 will not have a job with any substance. The weakness of them is truly amazing

@OffTheLineBlog: If I’m Marc White or Josh Taylor in this position, my head would be on mars. Numerous failures from the man in the middle here, yet it is Taylor booked. Sad state of where the game is.

@_georgeplank_: The referee has to be taken off any games for the rest of the season, absolutely fucking clueless that cost teams leagues. Need to start punishing officials more, plan all week and work so hard for a complete incompetent ref to ruin it and make himself heard.

@markusbartley: Officials unequivocally backing each other, even in the face of the most obvious error, is one reason why I struggle with so many of them.

Have Your Say

What do you make of this refereeing call? Should referees/officials be taken off games over a bad decision made on their behalf? Let us know your thoughts in the comments or tweet us @fan_banter