BASINGSTOKE Town manager Jason Bristow was left to rue two game-changing refereeing decisions as his side were knocked out of the Blue Square Bet South play-offs at Dartford on Sunday.

Going into the game trailing 1-0 from the first leg of their semi-final, Town were still very much in the tie at half-time, with the second leg level at 0-0.

Elliott Bradbrook’s header from a free-kick gave the hosts some breathing space early in the second half but Basingstoke bounced back well, Shaun McAuley finding the top corner to reduce the deficit back to a single goal.

Controversy then struck as Dartford were first awarded a goal following a dramatic scramble on the line and Delano Sam-Yorke had a headed goal disallowed – decisions that Bristow felt were crucial and wrong.

“They are two unbelievable decisions in the space of five minutes that have changed the game,” the Basingstoke boss said.

“Dartford’s second goal was embarrassing to be honest. Five or six of the players were on the ball, while one of them has sat on it and moved it with his arm.

“Everyone in the ground thought it was going to be a free-kick and when you see the reaction of the players, you can tell it is a bad decision.

“Then we do not think there is any way Delano can be offside because he has challenged for the ball with the defender goal-side.”

Town hit the crossbar late on, while Sam-Yorke was sent-off for a challenge borne out of frustration as his side’s season came to a sad end.

Bristow added: “I am disappointed for the club, the fans and the players because they have given everything. We go off feeling really unlucky to have lost the game.

“Over the 90 minutes today and the second half of the first leg I felt we were the better side.

“I am disappointed today but when the dust settles and we think about what we have achieved we can be very proud.”