STEVE Castle described Solomon Shields dismissal at Welling as a horrendous decision as City s already threadbare squad faces up to losing two key players for important games. Shields and goalkeeper Paul Bastock were dismissed by referee Matt Foley du

STEVE Castle described Solomon Shields' dismissal at Welling as a 'horrendous decision' as City's already threadbare squad faces up to losing two key players for important games.

Shields and goalkeeper Paul Bastock were dismissed by referee Matt Foley during the 3-2 defeat at Welling meaning that they will both have to miss important games, including the tie with big-spending Chelmsford City.

Welling weren't videoing the game so City have no chance of overturning the decision and will just have to soldier on.

Talking of the Shields red card, a remarkably calm Castle said after the game that he's never seen anything like it in all his time in football.

"I've been in the game quite a while and I've never known when we get the decision, we get the foul, then our lad gets sent off.

The 19-year-old was visibly distraught by the referee's decision and the City boss defended his player.

"Obviously the referee doesn't know personalities but I think we know Solomon more than enough to know he'd be the last person who would go over the top which is what the referee is saying he did. He got fouled and lost his balance and the referee's made a horrendous decision in my opinion," he added.

Castle also felt Foley should have been wiser to the actions of ex-Saint Lee Clarke who went down when one-on-one with goalkeeper Bastock resulting in the former Boston man's dismissal.

"Lee's entitled to maybe exaggerate it a little bit, the referee's fallen for it again and when you look in a biased favour you might have thought he touched Lee but it wasn't enough to fall down.

"He's (Clarke) been part of St Albans long enough and if he'd done it for us we'd have been more than pleased. It's a little bit of gamesmanship that he's entitled to do but really officials worth their salt should know what he's trying to achieve."

Castle spoke with the official after the game and says in his opinion officials need to apply more consistency.

"I just said to him can I come and speak to him after the game because I am mystified. I don't really like going in there because it just frustrates me more.

"They are only doing things in their best interests but unfortunately is the level of refereeing high enough? I really do think there were wrong decisions and a little bit more consistency (needs to be) applied.