Rushall Olympic boss bemoans costly red card decision in FA Cup exit
Rushall Olympic boss Adam Stevens felt officials were "out to make a name for themselves" as his side's historic FA Cup run ended in defeat.
The Pics were seen off by League Two visitors Accrington Stanley in front of a record crowd at Dales Lane but only after talismanic striker Luke Benbow was dismissed for two yellow cards on the hour.
Stanley punished the Pics' 10 men as Josh Woods turned in from a mistake by home goalkeeper Paul White with a little over 15 minutes remaining and Tyler Walton made the tie safe inside the final 10 minutes.
Rushall chief Stevens was proud of his side's efforts and felt the hosts were right in the contest with the scoreline level. He believed referee Steven Copeland's decisions lacked consistency when it came to Benbow's two yellow cards, one for an aerial challenge and one for a strong 50-50 tackle.
Stevens said: "I'm proud of all of the lads. We put a right good shift in, we've had a lot of injuries this season.
"But I'm really disappointed in the referee. I just want consistency, if that's two yellow cards...and fair play for their players, they've said it's never a red.
"They've done the same fouls as us and they're not yellow cards then you can ask the question. They changed the game for me. Fact.
"I'm disappointed for our keeper, bless him. He got us here in a penalty shootout. He's dropped a routine ball. That's how goalkeeping works sometimes. But with 10 men against League Two opposition it was always going to be hard.
"Sometimes you need a little bit of luck and we didn't have any. I really fancied us during the game, I thought one moment would win it for us and unfortunately one moment, the red card, has cost us and it becomes a different game."
Rushall, who slipped to the bottom of National League North with rivals in action elsewhere, were playing in the competition's first round for the first time in their 131-year history. The attendance of 1,311 - featuring only around 300 Accy fans - was a club-record attendance.
The hosts' best chances came early in either half as former Stourbridge hero Benbow's header dropped on the roof of the net and Albion loan youngster Fenton Heard, making his debut, shot at Stanley keeper Billy Crellin.
"I thought Luke Benbow was outstanding, caused them no end of problems and was a massive miss when he went off," Stevens added. "Defensively we were brilliant, I don't think we were opened up at all.
"The frustrating thing is officials sometimes like to make a name for themselves and couldn't wait to give out yellows quickly enough. That's the question you can't ask as a manager. If you ask it by waving your arms around you get sent off. I managed to keep mine by my sides somehow.
"You've got to have consistency. You give it one way you've got to give the same. That's all I ask."
The Pics return to league action with a crunch clash against third-bottom Needham Market at Dales Lane on Tuesday night (7.45pm). They head to Radcliffe, currently fourth-bottom, on Saturday.
