Referee blows for halftime at worst possible moment

Referees are often maligned for not letting the game 'flow', but a stickler of an English whistle-blower has really caused outrage with his diligent time keeping.

League Two referee Trevor Kettle stunned players and fans alike when he blew for halftime at the worst possible moment – for the scoring team at least - a second before the ball hit the back of the net for a goal.

The veteran official was overseeing a match between Accrington Stanley and AFC Wimbledon when the visitors went on the attack with just seconds remaining in the half.

It seemed Accrington would go into the sheds a goal to the good with striker Billy Kee hitting the back of the net.

But the goal wouldn’t count – Kettle blowing his whistle almost the same time Kee wrapped his right foot around the ball.

The Accrington players immediately surrounded Kettle and disputed the goal should stand as, according to football courtesy, they were in attacking position.

But Kettle, who clearly is a stickler for punctuality, waved away their pleas and called an end to the half.

To make matters worse, the phantom goal would have been a winner with the teams playing out a 0-0 draw.