LEAMINGTON boss Paul Holleran was left frustrated after seeing his side's four-match winning streak come to an end on Tuesday night with a 3-1 home defeat to Hednesford Town.
Two goals in the opening 15 minutes left Brakes with a mountain to climb, and although they pulled a goal back in the 81st minute through Scott Lycett, the Pitmen sealed the three points with a late breakaway.
And, while Holleran was disappointed
with the manner of Hednesford's opening two goals, he was particularly critical of referee M Wilkes, believing his failure to crack down on the visitors' robust approach led to both Michael Touhy and Carl Pentney suffering serious injuries.
"I don't want to harp on about referees but you expect a certain level," said Holleran. "In the first 15 minutes, Carl was flattened twice and Tuohy picked up his injury as the result of a two-footed tackle.
"Referees set their standards in the first five minutes and Hednesford were a bit clever, they realised what they could get away with.
"I'm quietly confident that I could stand in the middle of the pitch, not move and still referee better than they do, it just needs a little know-how. But they can't get it right in the Premiership, so what hope have we got?"
Pentney suffered concusision as a result of a blow to the head just after half-time and spent the night under observation at Warwick Hospital.
He was released on Wednesday but will be replaced by Tony Breeden for tomorrow's trip to Clevedon.
Richard Batchelor, who picked up a hip injury on Tuesday night, and Tuohy are also expected to miss the trip to the Hand Stadium. However, Luke Corbett, who made a substitute appearance in midweek, and Mark Bellingham are back to full fitness.
