Molten Spartan South Midlands Premier Division Colney Heath 0 Oxhey Jets 2 COLNEY Heath were reduced to 10 men and consequently fell to their first league defeat since August at home to Oxhey Jets on Tuesday.

Molten Spartan South Midlands Premier Division

Colney Heath 0 Oxhey Jets 2

COLNEY Heath were reduced to 10 men and consequently fell to their first league defeat since August at home to Oxhey Jets on Tuesday.

The Magpies were facing yet another tough challenge against unbeaten Premier Division outfit Oxhey Jets and management duo Scott Lacey and Wesley Awad saw their side dominate the early stages. Lacey said: "We made a great start and in the first 20 minutes they didn't touch the ball. We dominated."

The match swung in favour of the visitors when Colney Heath defender Dennis Paratusic was red-carded for pulling back an Oxhey attacker after they broke forward quickly. Lacey felt the decision was harsh on his defender. He said: "It was an extremely strange decision as there were two people behind Dennis at the time. He sent him off for a professional foul and I tried to question the referee at half time but he didn't want to know."

The Magpies battled on but conceded early in the second half and then were finished off by the second goal as Oxhey recorded their fifth win from seven games. A disappointed Lacey was left feeling that the red-card decision had cost his side. He said: "I believe that the standard of the refereeing is not up to the ability of the league. This is a good league now, a strong league. It doesn't help that the referees are constantly being assessed, it puts pressure on them to not use common sense. The referee has to do the things he feels he is expected to do. It is something the league needs to look at.

"We were fined £80 last night for the sending off and yellow cards and there was not a bad tackle in the game. Everyone in the ground, including the away fans, the away players and the away bench did not see it as a sending off. The only positive for us is that this does not feel like a defeat and had we not had the sending off we would have won it."

On Saturday Colney Heath travel to Brimsdown Rovers and will be hoping to return to winning ways. Defender Nicky Winger is unavailable for Saturday but new signing Mark Teesdale could make his debut in the back four. Lacey said: "Mark is an experienced defender and has played at a higher level. He is a great addition and this shows how far this club has come."

The Magpies face Hanwell Town on Tuesday with a 7.45pm kick off at the Recreation Ground.