Rushall boss bemoans refs

Rushall boss Paul Holleran was left feeling like Rafa Benitez after seeing a key penalty decision go against his side at Chasetown.

Olympic were 2-1 down and chasing an equaliser when Damien Charie was brought down.

Pics officials were convinced the referee, who had earlier given the Scholars a penalty converted by Rushall old boy Dean Perrow, pointed to the spot before changing his mind and awarding a free-kick on the line on the edge of the box.

Holleran has no complaints with Chasetown's penalty but was left incensed when his side, who went on to lose the game, were denied.

"The referee seemed to give it but then slowly moved his arm and decided it should be a free-kick on the edge of the box and put the ball right on the line," fumed Holleran.

"In so much as the penalty we conceded was a penalty, their lad put in a really rash challenge and everyone in the ground could see it.

"Things like that are disappointing. You can talk about bad luck but when a decision goes against you like that it isn't fair.

"I joked to someone after the game that I thought Rob Styles' performance at Liverpool last weekend wasn't that bad after all."

But Holleran admitted the Pics were their own worst enemies at Church Street after leading through a stunning Lee Barrow free-kick.

"After playing with a lot of quality to beat a good Barton Rovers side last weekend, Tuesday's game turned into a bit of a scrap and I was disappointed we didn't get anything out of it," he said.

"We went 1-0 up and were in total control of the game but we let them back into it just before half-time by giving an awful penalty away.

"It looked like a penalty to me but we'd had chances to clear our lines before then and we didn't take them.

"It changed the game and it rattled us a bit because some of the lads thought it was a rough decision.

"Chasetown didn't have a shot on target from open play all night but straight after half-time Niki Preston scored an own goal when we lost our concentration and discipline.

"From being a goal up and cruising, we found ourselves 2-1 down and chasing the game.

"After that, to be fair, the lads gave it a real go but they defended well, cleared an effort off the line and then there was that penalty decision.

"To come away with nothing was disappointing because good sides see little rough periods through and we didn't do that either side of half-time."

Barrow also hit the bar with another late free-kick after scoring earlier and Holleran reckons the Pics will be a threat from set pieces this season.

"Set plays will be important for us this year," added the Rushall boss.

"In and around the box Lee and Grant Beckett have got great quality and I expect us to get goals.

"Lee scored a great free-kick and if his second, which hit the bar, had been an inch lower we would have drawn 2-2.

"It was just the way things went for us."