DAVID Fish has had enough of biting his lip when it comes to referees and Mossley AFC’s promotion push.
Quite simply, they are costing them Northern Premier League points.
The Lilywhites are still cursing official Alan Bennett’s refusal to award a penalty for an apparent handball in the 1-1 draw with Witton Albion.
Now as they sit fifth in the West Division ahead of a huge game at Clitheroe, who sit two points behind them with a game in hand, manager Fish has hit out.
- Photo by Martyn Nolan
He said: “In the last two games, I think the referees have cost us four points.
“The ball clear as day hit his hand, both the linesman and the ref claim that Andy Keogh was in the way – he’s big but he’s not that big.
“People stood in the stand next to the linesman saw it and people on the pitch next to the ref saw it.
“For me, they made a huge mistake and I suspect they bottled it. If they don’t make it full-time, I think there’s a great career in politics for quite a few of them.”
Jack Banister gave Mossley the lead before Ben Harrison equalised, much to Fish’s dismay – both at the way the goal came about and the reaction of some of his players.
He added: “It was an incredibly soft free kick. It was clever centre forward play – he was facing the dugouts and drew a bit of contact.
“He went down and the referee gave a fee kick. The player knew what he’d done, he was laughing his head off as he went to ground.
“But we switched off. Players got too involved with moaning to the ref, allowing them to play quickly down the outside and we should’ve defended better.
“It was a catalogue of errors.
“I wouldn’t mind the free kick if decisions were consistent. I saw Mason Fawns get pushed with two hands in the back, which no-one saw. I saw players go over the top of the ball and it wasn’t given. I saw plenty of nudges.
“That level of consistency absolutely drives me mad.”