Boss laments '˜worst refereeing performance I've ever seen'

The Westies saw a 1-0 lead turn into a 2-1 defeat away to Alfold in Macron Store Southern Combination Football League Division Two after having two players sent-off and two confident penalty appeals turned down.

Stapley said: “It was the worst refereeing performance I’ve ever seen from anyone. That’s what cost us three points; nothing to do with how the players have played.

“I just don’t understand what referees get out of it. It was ridiculous. He spoke to everyone like they were a piece of dirt and when I asked him questions, he can’t answer them. It was one of those days you look back at and think what’s the point of doing it?

“I couldn’t ask any more of the players and we’ve ended up coming away with no points from a game we should’ve won five or six nil.”

The Westies led for more than 70 minutes before goals in the 80th and 84th minutes consigned them to a defeat.

Westfield had a lot of the play and looked good in the opening 15-20 minutes. Callum Smith put them ahead when he latched on to a lovely pass by Aaron Cochrane between the centre-half and left-back, cut inside and slotted under the goalkeeper.

The visitors had chances to extend their lead before Alfold enjoyed a strong 20-minute spell, during which Sam Winter and Jake Adams, who had a fantastic game in goal even though he usually plays in midfield, made goal-line clearances.

Westfield decided to sit a bit deeper during the second half and they went down to 10 men when Zak Hurst was shown a second yellow card supposedly for kicking the ball away, although Westfield manager Jack Stapley said he played a five-yard pass to Regan Smith at the very moment the referee blew for a foul.

Westfield switched to a 4-4-1 formation with Scott Ramsay up-front on his own. They thought they had retaken the lead when Callum Smith put the ball in the net only for the referee to pull play back for a foul on Regan Smith near the halfway line.

They away team was further incensed when Ramsay seemed to be taken down by the goalkeeper as he rounded him, but the referee awarded a goal kick rather than a penalty.