SOCCER: Stowmarket Town's frustration at losing out to a last minute disputed penalty in their Jewson League Premier Division fixture at Clacton was worsened by the sight of an assistant referee running the line with one arm in a sling.

By Elvin King

SOCCER

STOWMARKET Town's frustration at losing out to a last minute disputed penalty in their Jewson League Premier Division fixture at Clacton was worsened by the sight of an assistant referee running the line with one arm in a sling.

It was this official who flagged for the spot kick in the 90th minute with the score 1-1.

Stowmarket manager Mel Aldis said: "The referee did not seem convinced that Mark Barnard had handled the ball. But I suppose he had to go along with his assistant's flag.

"It can't be easy to keep up with play with a wounded arm, and the strange thing was that we had the same linesman covering our defence in both halves.

"I am not knocking the official as he was signalling what he saw, but we did feel hard done by. Ian Brown, the Clacton striker, apologised to us after the game and I stayed behind in the Clacton clubhouse until 11.30pm to watch a video of the match.

"This proved that Mark did not handle the ball."