BOSS Ian Long was left fuming at the officials after Alvechurch drew with Stourport Swifts.

Church had been looking to make it three wins on the bounce in the Midlands Football League Premier but had to settle for a point at Lye Meadow last Saturday.

Luke Paskin had handed the hosts the lead on 70 minutes despite them being down to 10 men after Mike Wardle was given his marching orders for a second booking on the half-hour mark.

However, a penalty decision late in the clash handed Swifts a way back,to the anger of Long.

He said: “It was an awful refereeing performance and I think that cost us in the end.

“Mike Wardle got the ball for his second booking and shouldn’t have been sent off. Then, at the end of the game, he gave a penalty that no-one could understand.

“The ball came into the box and he spotted some pushing and blew his whistle.

“To make it worse, we went straight up the other end and had James Spray brought down in the box as we looked to win it, but he gave nothing.

“We heard recently that Alvechurch came up at a recent referees’ meeting and I do worry that we may become victimised because we are a very vocal bench. It is something the club will be looking into. We want to speak to the league about it.”

Long now wants his side to hit back with a vengeance. They are due to take on Westfields away tonight before welcoming AFC Wulfrunians this Saturday (3pm).

“We have to take it out of the referee’s hands,” he added. “If they have a bad game we have to make sure that it doesn’t affect us so much.

“We need to put games to bed as quickly as possible.”

Alvechurch will be without suspended duo Zak Foster and Josh March and the absent Josh Sarmento this week. They have boosted their ranks with addition of central midfielder Mike McGrath from Hednesford.