Whitchurch United 1 Brockenhurst 2

Whitchurch's stay in the Jewson Wessex League looks more and more likely to end, as, for the third game running, United felt aggrieved by refereeing decisions.

Brockenhurst's player-manager Pete Moore was sent off for throwing a punch in the second half as the more physical side came out winners at Longmeadow.

James Scrivens made an early chance when he broke down the left and drilled the ball across the face of the goal, but no-one was there at the far post.

At the start of the second period Dave Smalley brought off point-blank saves to deny Plant, and United squandered a couple of half-chances before Brock took the lead on 57 minutes through Tucker, with the home defence appealing for offside.

It took just four minutes for United to get a deserved equaliser when Paul Odey got onto the end of George Pitts's cross, and minutes later they should have gone ahead when Kitson miscontrolled at the last minute.

With 20 minutes left, a free-for-all erupted after a tackle on Maye by Brock's Plant, and Moore saw red for his punch.

But United's Kitson was sent off soon after for retaliation for a tackle by Taylor, and Whitchurch's anger with the officials increased when they felt they were denied a clear penalty for a handball by Brock's Stride on the line.

New boss Derek Smalley told the Advertiser: "It could have been very different; we had a couple of chances, and because we were pushing up to get the goals we got caught at the back.

"Other people might complain about the refereeing but I just think the game was there for us to win. We've just got to learn to look after ourselves a bit more.

"It's been a difficult week for the club but there was a tremendous response on and off the pitch."

Whitchurch take on Bemerton Heath at Longmeadow on Saturday.