Town boss hits out at referee (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Gray blames "poor" officiating for defeat

8:00am Thursday 12th January 2012 in Football By John Boyman

FURIOUS Basingstoke Town manager Frank Gray blasted referee Brett Huxtable after seeing striker David Pratt sent off during his side’s 2-1 defeat away at Weston-super-Mare on Tuesday.

The Torrington official showed Pratt a straight red card for a tackle on Jamie Price just before half-time.

Gray had a great view of the challenge, which took place right in front of the dugout, and he felt that the decision capped a bad night for the referee.

“The referee was poor overall for both teams,” the Town boss said.

“A lot went on tonight that you have to question.

“David’s tackle was a foul but no more. There was very little contact and the same lad had been booked five minutes earlier for feigning injury, which tells you something.

“The assistant is supposed to help the referee, but he did not even flag when the tackle happened.

“The next minute, the referee is consulting with him and showing a red card.”

The match was finely balanced at 1-1 when Pratt saw red, and while Town did well in the second half, Weston made their extra man tell, Kane Ingram scoring direct from a corner to earn them all three points.

The result means that Basingstoke remain ninth in the Blue Square Bet South table – eight points off the play-off places.

Town began Tuesday’s match badly, going behind in just the second minute.

However, Angus MacDonald levelled against the run of play on 35 minutes and the visitors seemed to have seized the initiative before Pratt’s dismissal.

Gray added: “The decision to send David off turned the game and cost us dearly.

“They are all important games, but it was a big match for us tonight.”

Basingstoke will be hoping for better luck when they return to the west country for an FA Trophy tie against Blue Square Bet Premier side Bath City on Saturday (kick-off 3pm).

Gray, who is hoping to lead the club to the third round of the competition for the first time, said his side must put Tuesday’s disappointment behind them.

“We have got to pick ourselves up now,” he said.

“We cannot afford to dwell on the Weston result because the Bath game is another important one, and we are all looking forward to it.

“It’s always nice to pit your wits against a side from a higher level and we want to go as far as we can in the competition.”

Bath are having a tough season and are currently bottom of the league, but they are unbeaten in four and will look to feed dangerous striker Sean Canham by attacking down the flanks.

“Bath will be looking forward to the game as well,” Gray added.

“For them, it’s a home tie against a side from a lower league and they will be the favourites.

“They have not been in great form but any side in that league, regardless of where they are in the table, should be stronger than a team from our division.

“On the day, it’s all about who comes out on top over 90 minutes.”

Town will welcome back midfielder Stuart Lake, who was suspended for the trip to Weston, while Delano Sam-Yorke continued his comeback from injury with an impressive 20 minute cameo.

However, Shaun McAuley, Ashley Bayes and Adam Mekki are all doubtful.

See Thursday's Gazette for a full report of the trip to Weston – and log on to basingstokegazette.co.uk/sport for live updates from Bath on Saturday afternoon.