Paul Barnes admitted Dulwich Hamlet gave away “poor goals” in the 5-1 defeat at Havant & Waterlooville last weekend – but revealed he wanted an apology from the referee after a penalty decision he branded a “shocker”.
James Roberts scored in the fifth minute and ex-Hamlet player Mo Faal in the fifteenth to put the home side in control.
George Porter halved the deficit in the 31st minute, but three minutes later came the penalty controversy. It seemed to everyone except referee Samuel Read that Dulwich goalkeeper Charlie Granger had cleanly punched the ball away from danger with Jason Prior chasing a long pass forward. Instead, Mead pointed to the spot and Roberts got his second.
Barnes felt his side did have chances in the second half, but Danny Wright grabbed a brace in the 88th and 93rd minutes to give an unfair look to the score-line from the visitors’ perspective.
“Very frustrating. The way we gave away poor goals. It’s a tough one because in possession I thought we were very good. I though the shape and the system we set up with to try to test Havant worked really well at times,” Barnes told Dulwich’s media after the game.
“But if you give away soft goals against good sides you’re always going to get punished.
“We came back to 2-1 and we looked very good, I thought they looked quite nervous. And then the ref’s given a shocker, in my opinion. I thought the decision for the penalty was an absolute shocker, I can’t wait to watch it back. And we did say if he could watch it and send us an apology when he’s done that.
“But then after that, the two goals, you could say it’s right at the death. And we played really well in the second half, created good chances, didn’t take them, and again got punished.”
Dulwich’s next game is away at Taunton Town next Tuesday (November 22). Kick-off is 7.45pm.
Meanwhile, the Hamlet’s twice-postponed fixture at home to Weymouth has been rescheduled for December 20 (7.45pm).
Ebbsfleet United at Champion Hill will now be on January 24 (7.45pm).
Image: @robavis