Herts Senior County League Premier Division Standon & Puckeridge 1 Park Street Village 0 PARK Street Village boss Ryan Thompson was left bemused by controversial refereeing decisions as his side were denied a point at Standon & Puckeridge on Saturday. Th

Herts Senior County League Premier Division

Standon & Puckeridge 1

Park Street Village 0

PARK Street Village boss Ryan Thompson was left bemused by controversial refereeing decisions as his side were denied a point at Standon & Puckeridge on Saturday.

Thompson called up eight players from his reserve side for the clash and, with two 17-year-olds and two 18-year-olds in playing, the manager hailed the team showing. He said: "The lads played brilliantly, we made some big changes and took a couple of gambles and created quite a few chances. Scott Corley, Ricky Petts, Dean Thompson and Andy Murphy all did superbly well. Chris Brown and the lads that came up from the reserves were also excellent. We did so well."

A contentious penalty went the way of the hosts in the second half and after they opened the scoring from the spot, PSV were then denied a penalty of their own. Thompson said: "They got a bit of a dubious penalty. The referee gave handball against Andy Cattermole. The ball was going out of play but struck his hand from close range. I have seen them given, you have got to deal with it. They scored the pen but five minutes later exactly the same thing has happened in their area and we haven't got a thing.

"Earlier in the game Bruce Hutchison was taken out, knee high, with both legs. It was not malicious but it was a bad one, very badly timed and the ref has waved play on."

PSV continued to chase a result and thought they had equalised when winger Hutchison found the back of the net following a mazy dribble but again they were left baffled as the strike was ruled out. He said: "What rounded it off for us was, with 25 minutes to go, Bruce has picked up the ball and gone past three players. He went past the last defender on the edge of the box and ran through and smashed the ball into the back of the net. It was a great goal but the linesman had his flag up for offside. He hadn't lost control of the ball or anything.

"It was probably one of the worst decisions I have ever encountered in football. The opposition lads were a good bunch, there was no nastiness or anything and they couldn't believe what had gone on. They were laughing. The ref has gone over to the linesman but still said it was offside. We were fuming."

PSV again regrouped and fought on for the last 20 minutes, dominating play but could not find the net and were left with a disappointing defeat.

Thompson hailed the performance of regular first teamers Damon Wright, Bruce Hutchison and Tony Kerby. Wright switched from his regular position in defence and performed superbly in a midfield holding role while goalkeeper Kerby and winger Hutchison showed top form. The manager said: "Damon Wright was superb. He was protecting the back four and spraying the ball around really well. Bruce Hutchison played superbly and Tony Kerby had his best game of the season for us."

PSV host Codicote on Saturday at Toulmin Drive, weather permitting, and Thompson is planning to keep faith with the youngsters. He said: "If the game is on, and I will be very surprised if it is, we will be sticking with most of the young lads that played. We can't win the league now or finish second, we are too far behind so we will be giving these youngsters and reserves a lot of first team football between now and the end of the season.