Another Sunday, another weekend without a game and once again it's the lack of a referee that is the cause.

Last week's game against Turks Head became the third in five weeks to fall victim to the curse, with two games recently postponed because of injuries to the officials - and now this one off because no referee was appointed to the game.

Who's the ******* in the black?

We haven't seen one in so long that we probably wouldn't know what a referee looks like.

ONE side who did play last weekend was Copper Beech, who beat Sherwoods 5-2 to maintain their position at the top of Division Three.

Their start is all the more remarkable considering they failed to record a victory at all in pre-season and lost two of their first three games.

"We had a poor pre-season not winning a single game in four attempts, " says goalkeeper Nick Woodward. "We won our first game 5-2 against Affinity Healthcare, then lost 2-1 against Hole in the Wall. Then our next loss was against Brown Trout, 5-1."

But since then, they've been unbeaten and now head the table. So what is behind their change in fortunes? "The secret is that we are a great attacking team, " says Nick - and it's just as well with him in goal.

MEANWHILE, at the top of the Second Division and boasting a 100 per cent record, the engine seems to be running along nicely at Model T - but things may be starting to stall for the Mowden-based side.

The first blow for them came when midfield linchpin Steven Barker suffered shin splints - surely the first ever Sunday League player to come down with this poncy injury. Last weekend he appeared to be trying to heal it by drinking lots of Fosters to numb the pain, but may still be ruled out for a couple of games.

And now former goalkeeper Gareth Percival has launched an astonishing attack at new number one Daniel Brown.

"Danny 'Camel' Brown in goal is a disgrace - how they are top with him in the sticks, I'll never know!" roared Percival, who is now looking for a new club after the cricket season finished.

Brown is sure to be seething at the bitter comments after establishing himself as number one and excelling in the recent victory over Fighting Cocks.

Never mind Wenger and Mourinho, this war of words could run and run.

NEXT up for RAC are BSC All Stars, who have conceded the most goals in the entire league and yet their goalkeeper Mark Briggs won man of the match a couple of weeks ago.

Former side of our young midfielder Marc Tills, the All Stars have still managed to win twice this season despite their leaky defence and although early days, it could prove to be the proverbial six-pointer as both sides battle relegation.

It promises to be quite a game - as long as a referee can make it this time, of course.

Published: 04/11/05