Barton Rovers boss Jimmy Gray felt his side were denied victory over local rivals AFC Dunstable on Tuesday night after a ‘gaping’ mistake by the officials led to the visitor’s equaliser.
In a fiercely contested match played, both sides had early breaks but failed to hit the target as Jermaine Hall and BJ Christie dominated the front line for AFC but were equally matched buy Rovers’ back-line.
The best chance of the half fell to Hall who put his shot wide of a open goal as the two sides went in to the break on level terms.
In the second period, Rovers took the lead on 54 minutes when Rod Orlando-Young’s solo run down the right saw him cut inside and neatly slot past Ricky Perks.
However, AFC’s equaliser came in controversial fashion as home keeper Aaron Fulton was bundled over the line with the ball by Hall as the referee let the goal stand. Both sides pressed for a winner in the closing stages as Fulton made a fine save, before Rovers hit the post as the spoils were shared.
Rovers boss Jimmy Gray said: “It was a great game to watch that was played in good spirit and at a frantic pace. “Rod’s goal was sublime but to concede in such a way is hard to take. Clearly the referee has made a gaping mistake which shouldn’t happen at this level of football. “I thought both sides played some great stuff and our lads gave it a good go for the win late on.
We now look forward to Saturday’s FA Cup game and if we play like we did and lady luck turns in our favour then we will have a good chance.”
Barton Rovers 1 AFC Dunstable 1
Orlando-Young 54 Hall 61
Rovers line up
Fulton
Hutchins
Corran
Gentle
Bola
O'Brien
Smith
Bailey
Blackett
Orlando-Young
Subs
Nolan
Adcock
Hartley
Attendance
106