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Refwatch Preview: Fleetwood (h)

First-year referee Darren Bond is the man in the middle for Dale’s JPT tie against Fleetwood on Tuesday.

The Wigan-based referee gained promotion to the league list this season after impressing last term when he primarily officiated in the Blue Square Premier.

Among his appointments last season was the first leg of the play-off semi-final between Luton and Wrexham at Kenilworth Road.

Darren was also a linesman in the Premier League in 2011/12, receiving many notable appointments over the course of the campaign, including Manchester United v Newcastle at Old Trafford.

He has taken charge of two games so far this term, both involving several notable incidents.

His first game was Burton v AFC Wimbledon, which the home side won 6-2 to record the biggest victory in League Two so far this season.

Four days later he was in charge of Aldershot v Cheltenham when torrential rain forced Darren to take the teams off the field for ten minutes until the weather subsided.

He also showed seven yellow cards at Aldershot on what was an eventful afternoon.

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