MATT Clarke branded the referee ‘a disgrace’ after Redditch United had two players sent off in a 3-0 defeat away at high-flying Leamington.
Defenders Ryan Wollacott and Brad Burton saw red in either half before the Brakes took the lead through Cally Stewart’s controversial goal on 48 minutes with Ewan Williams and Theo Streete also on target for the home side at the Your Co-Op Community Stadium.
Reds boss Clarke was incensed by Leamington’s opener with United defender Musa Ceesay down in the box with a head injury only for the referee to allow play to continue.
Clarke said: “The referee was a disgrace, he lost control, the decision not to stop play was a disgrace, we’re in the game at nil-nil, that decision changed the game because they scored from it.
“Musa is on the floor for 23 seconds before the goal, everybody is screaming about a head injury to the referee, incredibly the referee plays on and they score from that phase of play.
“The exact same situation panned out later in the game and he blows his whistle, it’s the inconsistency.
“The game changed on the first red card, we were comfortable in the first half, we broke a number of times and caused a lot of problems, we weren’t as fluid as we have been.
“I’ve got no qualms about the two yellow cards for Ryan, we spoke offline and it was uncharacteristic from him, he’s been fantastic for us but he made two bad decisions and it’s changed the game ultimately.
“The second red card for Brad, no excuses, he’s followed through, it’s a dangerous tackle, it was a red card 100 per cent for me.”
The result means Redditch sit 11th in the Southern League Premier Central table, three points outside of the play-off places.
With the teams set to head into the break goalless, Reds defender Wollacott received a second yellow card in the final minute of the half for a rash challenge on Williams.
And Leamington took the lead in controversial fashion on 49 minutes as Stewart scrambled the ball home from close range despite furious protests from the visitors with Ceesay down in the box with a head injury.
The home side doubled their advantage on 55 minutes as Williams headed in Henry Landers’ corner from the left at the back post.
And things went from bad to worse for Redditch on 68 minutes when Burton received a straight red card for a reckless challenge on Williams.
The Brakes completed the scoring seven minutes into time added on as Streete headed home from six-yards out moments after Adam Harrison superbly tipped Jiah Medrano’s shot onto the crossbar.
Redditch are next in action at home to Stratford Town on Monday, October 27 with kick-off at 7.45pm at the Valley Stadium.
