Carey blasts league over choice of ref

FALMOUTH Town manager Alan Carey has launched a scathing attack on Carlsberg South West Peninsula League officials for their choice of referee in Tuesday's premier division showdown with title rivals Bodmin Town.

Carey was seething after Town's 5-1 defeat at Bickland Park as he questioned the league's decision to appoint young referee Jamie MacLeod, from Exeter, for such a high profile game.

The former Bodmin boss was left incensed by a number of key decisions that went against his side as Falmouth's 11-match winning streak was brought to an end in emphatic fashion.

He fumed: "I don't know what this league is thinking to be perfectly honest.

"You get a big game like that and you get a young boy in charge of it, he's totally out of his depth and he proved that tonight.

"The final insult was he gave a penalty for the keeper (Kevin Miller) bringing a man down, he's the last man and he stays on the field.

"There was an assessor here tonight and he's probably going to say he's had a hell of a game.

"This league is never going to improve because you've got that standard.

"The teams are getting better and the officials are getting worse.

"I feel very bitter about it because it's important decisions, in big games that can cost you.

"It's very frustrating as a manager to sit and watch officials like that."

The game was delayed 15 minutes after Town officials were informed that MacLeod, who was travelling from Plymouth with his two other officials, couldn't find Bickland Park.

And it didn't get much better for the Devon official during the game as he was at the centre of some controversial decisions.

After Sam Matthews had given Bodmin a 14th minute lead, defender Chris Menhenick appeared to be obstructed by Carter seconds before Matthews was brought down by goalkeeper Jason Chapman in the box, and Carter made it 2-0 from the penalty spot.

Town ended the game with ten men when, just minutes after Olly Brokenshire made it 3-0 (54), Jamie Devine was shown a second yellow card for charging out of the wall early.

Town also saw a couple of very good shouts for penalties waved away, before MacLeod did point to the spot in the 84th minute after Miller was adjudged to have pushed Lee Hodges in the box. Much to Carey's frustration, despite being the last man, Miller stayed on the pitch as Mark Vercesi drilled the ball home to make it 3-1.

Former Town striker Danny O'Hagan and Adam Carter added two goals in injury time to complete a miserable evening for Carey's men.

The Falmouth boss will be keen to draw a line under Tuesday's setback as he prepares his side for Saturday's FA Carlsberg Vase second round clash away to Cadbury Heath.

He said: "I've got to pick these players up now because we have a very big Vase game to concentrate on this weekend."

Falmouth: J Chapman, S White, J Devine, C Menhenick (S Winnan 54), L Rundle (D Hicks 70), R Pope, K Turner, D Green, I Hodges, M Drummond, M Vercesi. Subs (not used): J Lugg, B Manley.