Football: London APSA boss fumes at poor refereeing

LONDON APSA manager John Higley has blasted the referee after his relegation threatened side lost 2-0 at home to Barkingside on Saturday.

Higley was furious when APSA defender Isaac Aubynn was adjudged to have handled in the box, resulting in a successful spot kick.

The Terence McMillan Stadium boss was further enraged when the referee denied his side a penalty.

"I can't believe how this type of decision keeps going against us. How can you compete when you have blatant decisions go against you?," said Higley.

"This was a game of two penalties - the one we should have got and the one that was given against us, but never was.

"The same thing happened in the League Cup against Takeley. The ball clearly hits our player in the face, it leaves a mark and the ref still gives a penalty. Unbelievable is all I can say."

The APSA boss sympathised with his players after their valiant efforts produced scant reward.

"I feel sorry for the players really, because they put that effort in and still come away with nothing," said Higley.

"We make a lot of chances and, yes, if we score one of those it makes things easier, but when you are creating the chances, it motivates you to keep going.

"When you're creating chances and the ref gives a blatant decision against you, it's so demoralising."

Promotion-chasing Barkingside took the lead on the half hour mark when centre half Craig Dennis converted a cross from the right.

Five minutes later, the referee controversially pointed to the spot after he spotted a handball by Aubynn in the box and Fabian Batchelor stepped up to give 'Side a two-goal lead.

In the second half APSA dominated the game, with chance after chance going begging.

The hosts also had a penalty turned down when Gregory Akpele was brought down in the box.

London APSA: Brown, John Langton, Swash, Aubynn, Hussain, Ellis, Mpalampa, Dakri, Akpele, Lata, Jamie Langton. Subs: Broe, McCarthy, McCullagh, Gabor.