I’m a Wolves fan who had to step in as emergency fourth-official in FA Cup win… I was gutted I couldn’t celebrate winner

DYED-IN-THE-WOOL Wolves fan Ross Bennett admits he had to stifle his celebrations when Matheus Cunha struck his side’s FA Cup extra-time penalty winner against Brentford.

That’s because he was standing-in at Molineux as the FOURTH OFFICIAL at the time!

Getty

A fan was drafted in as an emergency fourth official for Wolves’ FA Cup win over Brentford[/caption]

Bennett, a qualified referee who usually officiates at grassroots Under-12 games, earned a rapid promotion on Tuesday night, when he gave up his Wolves seat in the Billy Wright Stand.

And he was put in charge of patrolling the technical areas, where he was soon in the thick of the off-field action, receiving an ear-bashing from Bees boss Thomas Frank and his backroom staff!

At the end of the regulation 90 minutes, with the tie level at 2-2, assistant referee Harry Lennard felt unwell and unable to continue and fourth official, Gavin Ward, stepped in to run the line.

That left the game without a fourth official for extra-time – until Bennett, who did his refereeing badges a couple of years ago – stepped forward and offered his assistance.

He said: “The referee Andy Madley asked if I’d do the fourth officiating and I was like: ‘If you give me a quick crash course I will.

“So for the next 30 minutes of my life I was officiating a FA Cup replay match – it was quite surreal really, crazy.

“The killer was not being able to celebrate the third goal because I’ll be going to the West Brom game in the next round and I couldn’t celebrate the goal that took us there!

“I thought I had to stay neutral so I can’t go running down the touchline if we win the game. But I wouldn’t change it because it’s an experience I’ll never have again.”

CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS

It turned out to be an eventful half hour stint for the stand-in official as Cunha struck Wolves’ winner from a hotly disputed penalty, as Brentford’s bench went ballistic.

Bennett told Wolves’ media: “I had Brentford staff asking what was going on and I had to tell them I wasn’t sure myself until I found out.

“It’s interesting to be able to hear the officials all directly communicating and when you hear it that way it does work quite well. It was a whirlwind really.”

While Madley, Lennard and Nick Hopton are all back in Premier League action this weekend, Bennett will be back officiating at an under-12s game.

He said: “The game wasn’t televised, so I don’t think any of my mates are going to believe me.

“Now I can retire gracefully. It’s one off the bucket list because I said when I did my course that one day I’d referee or officiate at the top and now I’ve done it.”

TRANSFER NEWS LIVE: All the latest transfer deals from around the world this January