PAUL Gazzard claimed Poole referee Ben Cobb “robbed” Bashley of three points in a 3-1 defeat to St Neots that saw the joint-boss sent from his technical area.

Gazzard felt Saints goalkeeper Daniel Heath should have been sent off after he brought down Jack Satterley in the penalty area on 19 minutes with Cobb brandishing a yellow card after pointing to the spot.

An incredulous Gazzard was asked to leave the dugout for foul and abusive language and encroachment on to the field of play after Jack Odam had fired home the spot kick.

And the day got no better for Bash with Odam pelting the post with a second penalty before the visitors rallied to score three goals in eight second-half minutes.

Saints’ third strike came from the penalty spot before Bash defender Brad Strickland was dismissed for a two-footed tackle, decisions that Gazzard also questioned.

He told the Daily Echo: “I was furious because he (Cobb) robbed us of three points and, more importantly, a home win.

“Jack (Satterley) was clean through and it was a sending-off all day long but the ref totally bottled it.

“It frustrates you. Yes, we got the penalty and scored it, but we should have been up against 10 men for 70 minutes. We should have been out of sight by half-time but we didn’t start the second half well and the game changed.

“They got another big decision when the referee awarded a penalty after their player seemed to fall over himself.

“I apologised for my reaction at half-time but his (Cobb’s) performance didn’t get any better.

“They are paid to do a job and you expect them to do their job well.”

When contacted by the Daily Echo for a response, Cobb politely declined to comment.

Meanwhile, Bash hope to have left-back Sam Boultwood available for tomorrow’s trip to AFC Totton (3pm), while goalkeeper Nic Jones returns in place of Cherries loanee Chad Collins.

Bash: Collins, Stephenson, Farren (Morris, 24), I Richardson, Middleton, S Richardson, Casey, Strickland, Sills, Odam (Brookes, 87), Satterley. Unused subs: Gazzard, Kearn, Thomas (g/k).