JOURNAL Series sports editor Mervyn Collins swapped his pen for a flag last Saturday.

An injury to an assistant referee during Evesham United's match at Atherstone prompted a call for a replacement and the press man was forced into action.

A Class One referee in the Evesham Sunday League, the new man faced few difficult decisions in his 25-minute line duty on an afternoon when he was also able to report on a 2-1 win for the Dr Martens League outfit.