KIDSGROVE manager Peter Ward blamed their 2-0 defeat away to Rushall Olympic on two "terrible" decisions by the referee.

The first was awarded against Nick Ward for handball, which cost Grove a penalty after 15 minutes – and was converted by Chris Mason – while the second involved the sending-off of goalkeeper Steve Hodgson.

Ward said: "The ball was driven straight at Nick from close range and he could not get out of the way.

"As for Steve Hodgson, he came out to the edge of the area to save at the feet of one of their players who had over-run the ball, so he jumped over Steve and went down."

Hodgson threw his gloves at the referee in disgust when he pointed to the spot for a foul on the Rushall player and showed him a straight red card, so defender Nick Ward (pictured) had to go in goal and saved the penalty.

Ward added: "I am not a referee basher these days because I have calmed down, but he was poor."

Rushall clinched the points on 81 minutes with another Mason strike, following a mistake by Dan Schwarz, but Ward said: "The game was a lottery. The ball was swirling around in the air a lot of the time.

"Our influential players could not get into the game, but Rushall adapted better to the conditions and got the ball down, but really, during the course of the game, neither keeper had a save to make.

"But I am not too down.We have to take it on the chin and we didn't lose much ground, but those teams who did not play because of the conditions had an advantage."

CHRIS HARPER