I agree that the sensible way ahead would be for timing to be be taken away from the ref and given to the fourth official. Also probably a good idea for the final whistle only to go when the ball goes dead - provided everybody knows time is "in the red" a la rugby union, so a tactical boot into touch can be applied once time is up.
From very limited experience umpiring hockey at seriously low levels, I know how difficult it is to choose the moment to blow if an attack is developing that may change the outcome of the game - but I also know I never chose a moment like that. Hockey at top level is now centrally timed and everybody in the ground can see the clock and counts down the last 5 seconds, so yesterday's situation could arise - but nobody could argue.
Nothing in my hopefully rational comments above means I'm not at one with the other pots calling the kettle black ... or worse
