‘Diabolical’ decision ends unbeaten run (09.01.03

AN ANGRY Alan Devonshire has blamed ‘diabolical’ refereeing decisions for ending Maidenhead United’s four-game unbeaten run, after a controversial 3-2 setback against Braintree Town at York Road on Saturday.
Having slipped two goals behind, the Magpies struck back with two wonder-goals after the break and looked like going on to claim all three points.
However, against the run of play, Braintree broke out and scored that controversial winner.
Coach Devonshire said: “On their first goal, the referee was playing advantage.
“When you play advantage you’re only supposed to count three seconds, then the advantage is over.
“But he called play back after they’d made four passes and then lost the ball.
“It’s diabolical.”
However, it was Braintree’s third which really riled the former England star.
He explained “Their third goal had two offsides.
“There was one as the ball went through and, as he passed the ball into the box, the fellow who scored was three yards offside himself. But the goal stood.
“You can’t legislate for that.
“I spoke to the officials about it after the game, but they just smiled and said ‘Don’t worry, these things even themselves out’.
“But we haven’t had any go our way.
“We scored two great goals and if anyone was going to go and win the game it was us. Then we got that decision.”
On a more positive note, Devonshire was named the Premier Division’s manager of the month for December, an award he has already dedicated to his players.
He said: “It’s nice. It’s a credit to the players and the staff. It’s not really for me. It’s a club thing.”
n Tomorrow (Saturday) United travel to league leaders Aldershot with high hopes of staging an upset.
Devonshire said: “We were looking forward to St Albans – after playing them earlier in the season when we thought we deserved something from the game – and we beat them 3-1.
“The boys will be looking forward to this one as well.
“In the past we’ve played well against the big sides but rarely beat them.
“We’re beating them now. That shows how far we’ve come as a team.”