‘We were mugged’ claims angry Dev (Story posted 12.09.02)

MAIDENHEAD United manager Alan Devonshire was incandescent with rage after Tuesday night’s defeat to Aldershot Town, when his side were denied victory by what he saw as two appaling decisions by the men in black.
Stalking into the club boardroom after the game, the fiery former England star was positively seething, particularly over the Shots’ highly controversial penalty.
He said: “We were mugged. I just can’t believe the referee gave that decision.
“He’s five yards away and he defers the decision to the linesman 20 yards away.
“In the second half the linesman gave us a free-kick on the edge of the box and the referee just waved play on.
“Why can’t they leave the result to the football!”
He also vented his spleen over United’s disallowed goal in the second half, saying: “I couldn’t see anything wrong with it.
“After the match, the linesman said the guy in the middle was interfering with play.
“But the cross went straight to the back post. How can he be interfering with play?
“And Morley was arriving from the wing-back position, so he couldn’t have been offside.”
However, there was little debate about the careless manner in which United conceded the vital second goal, when fleet-footed striker Roscoe D’Sane sprinted through a static defence to poke home the winner.
Devonshire explained “It was a glaring mistake, but when the boy (Chris Elsegood) walked in after the game he put his hands up.
“It was a mistake and he’ll learn from it.”
However, the general consensus in the ground was that United had actually played pretty well, considering they were facing a team made up of former league players.
Two particular examples spring to mind, in the shape of Paul Moody and Karl Ready.
Moody signed for the Shots over the summer from Oxford United – who had paid a reported £150,000 for 35-year-old striker, only 10 months earlier – while Ready was playing his football in the Scottish Premier last year, having previously been a regular for QPR and Wales.
But Devonshire claimed this did not excuse the defeat.
He said: “We didn’t pass as well as we have been, but there was only one team who wanted to play football last night.
“I thought Aldershot were there to be beaten, but we didn’t do it and they ended up winning 2-1.
“It’s more frustrating than disappointing, because at the end of the day the result was taken out of our hands.”
The defeat was perhaps made harder to bear by United’s 1-1 draw against lowly Enfield on Saturday, when the Magpies surrendered a half-time lead to return home with a single point.
Devonshire said: “It was disappointing. We played quite well at times and should have had the game won by half-time.
“We had lots of chances but then we slipped up at the back. But I don’t want to be too critical of the boys.
“We’re trying to build a side and we’re getting better and better.
“Everyone is saying we should beat these teams, but why should we beat them? They’re good sides as well.
“We got a point. It should have been three, but it’s better than none.”
Tomorrow (Saturday), United entertain Bedford Town at York Road, with Tuesday night bringing an away trip to Harrow Borough.
Devonshire said: “They’re both hard games.
“Okay, we’ve played four or five of the biggest sides, but these games are just as difficult in different ways.
“I’m hoping we can just play our football and not get any poor refereeing decisions.”