AFC Fylde interim boss David Longwell pulled no punches as he blasted the “ridiculous” and “bizarre” officiating during Saturday’s defeat to York City.
An Ollie Pearce penalty in first-half stoppage time paved the way for the Minstermen’s 3-1 win at Mill Farm, with Joe Felix and Malachi Fagan-Walcott making sure of the points with just over 10 minutes left to play.
And though Nick Haughton did pull a goal back for the hosts, it was too little, too late, to mount any comeback as they fell deeper into relegation trouble.
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There was a hint of controversy about awarding the penalty, with referee James Oldham hesitating in his decision after handball inside the box.
Longwell labelled the incident “laughable”, believing his side had stuck to their game plan well before that point.
“Once again, there’s definitely something that we seem to have against us as a club, decision after decision,” he bemoaned to club media.
“Obviously York are second in the league for a reason, they’re very good. You’ve got to give them that respect.
“What we had is a game plan to stay in the game to then try to get after them. If you do that too early in any game, you’ll open up and lose by five or six goals a game.
“In fairness to the players, they thought they did really well and tried to nullify them, I think they had one shot in the first half before the ridiculous penalty decision that the referee’s given and Ben made the save. But that was it, nothing else.
“I try not to be delusional and it’s the same conversation, they’ve done brilliant as they’ve done earlier in the season against Altrincham, Gateshead, Forest Green. We’ve had a similar sort of game plan, and it’s worked.
“There were a couple of moments at the start of the game when Gavin [Massey] could have scored, and if you get the first goal at this level you usually win the game.
“Unfortunately, before half time, it’s beyond a joke. It’s got to the point where it’s actually laughable about the decisions. What’s even more laughable is that people won’t take accountability for it.”
The Fylde boss has not shied away from his criticism towards the National League’s officials, adding: “I don’t know if it’s because we have been quite open to highlight it, that may have gone against us to be honest.
“There’s more examples of it today, both the first goal and second goal. He gives a penalty and it’s ridiculous, the whole thing.
“I think what happened as well, the crowd today will see it, that when the ball comes in and he fouls him, there’s a five-second delay because their fans behind the goal are shouting ‘handball!’.
“It did hit his hand, but it hit his hand because the boy barged him. It’s a foul all day long.
“Then the referee waited and gave the penalty, that’s just bizarre! Surely if you’re sure of any decision you give the decision. He said he needed thinking time, but his thinking time was wrong.”
