who failed to implement all the guidelines laid down in light of the recent strike.

Soccer was brought to a halt on the Island for more than a fortnight after referees withdrew their services following a spate of unsavoury incidents at local matches.

The straw that broke the camel's back was the alleged assault on referee, Perry Scott, by a player who he had dismissed.

Following the incident members of the Bermuda Referees Association met with Island soccer chiefs and drew up a list of requirements they wanted instigated at grounds.

These included prompt delivery of teamsheets, escorts for officials to and from the pitch and spectators to be kept away from the field of play.

Matches got underway again last weekend, and BRA president Lyndon Raynor said while not all the recommendations were taken on board at all grounds, officials had made some headway and were confident they would be commonplace in the not too distant future.

"I expected some teething problems to occur and I am sure that everybody can accept that from the outset, but overall I firmly believe that everything went off fairly well,'' said Raynor.

"I have been made to understand one or two clubs weren't sure what was exactly required, but after explaining to them they now understand.

"I expected some of the clubs would not be in compliance with the recommendations because they didn't all come to the meeting we had with the BFA -- the test will really come over a period of time as to whether they are kept up with. But for it to be successful everybody has to be involved, if there is a breakdown then everybody will have to be responsible.'' One referee who thought he might have difficulty in staging his game last Sunday was Ralph Tumbridge.

The start of the FA Cup quarter-final match-up between Cougars and Prospect at Devonshire Rec was delayed when he had trouble finding two linesmen after officials assigned by the BFA failed to appear.

Fortunately Vance Brown had remained at the ground after coaching his women's team Rude Girls in the opening contest and then former Bermuda national team goalkeeper, Arnold West, was persuaded to leave the comforts of the clubhouse to act as the second linesman.

On the plus side Devonshire supplied a full slate of officials with bibs for the afternoon's entertainment.

"From what I experienced in my match at Wellington Oval the club willingly provided us with what we had asked for. We were provided with personnel and everything else went off quite well. I haven't heard anything to the contrary from other referees,'' said Raynor.

"I know that at White Hill Field people were provided as officials and our members were satisfied with the way things went there.'' Things also went relatively well in the double-header at Bernard Park -- despite the non-appearance of a linesman until 25 minutes of the second game had elapsed, a very late teamsheet from Commercial League side Exiles, and the presence of a member of the public with a pitbull.

One matter that may take time for clubs to instigate is the request for them to provide referee's assistants at each match.

"It is something that we are still very much trying to work on -- it's really a long-term objective and we expect to have to persevere with this problem as we continue to be confronted with the shortage of officials that has plagued our ranks for a while,'' said Raynor.

"The good thing though about the return after the two-week period is that there was clearly a concerted effort by everybody to get things right, and in cases where there was not perfection we don't expect any repercussions.

"In fact, we are optimistic that the clubs will continue to strive hard to comply with all of the recommendations that were placed before them in the best interests of soccer.''