FUMING Basingstoke Town boss Ernie Howe believes "comical" decision-making by the referee played a key role in sending his side crashing out of the Hampshire Senior Cup.

Howe has spoken of his deep frustration with the poor standard of refereeing and the inconsistent application of the laws of football following his team's cup exit. With the defeat went their last chance of silverware this season.

Howe hit out after what he described as the "comical" performance of official James Lynnington in the club's quarter-final clash at Lymington and New Milton on Tuesday night.

The Camrose club went down 4-3 in a penalty shoot-out to the Wessex League side after twice losing a two-goal lead. The match ended 3-3 after normal and extra time.

Howe and the Town ranks were left fuming over the course of the match as they watched Lynnington:

only book Lymington's Trefor Smith for a two-footed horror tackle that left Ricky Allaway prostrate in the 12th minute

fail to send off home goalkeeper Alan Walker-Harris for two blatant professional fouls

do nothing in a separate incident where Walker-Harris clashed heads with Steve Hemmings in an angry reaction to the defender's attempts to win a 50-50 ball

send off Town player Rob Kember for two bookings that were nowhere near as offensive as the fouls committed by Smith or Walker-Harris.

When Nathan Stamp missed Town's third penalty in the shoot-out, defeat was made all the more galling as Walker-Harris scored his side's fourth before saving Craig McAllister's spot-kick.

The 'keeper had also saved a penalty from McAllister in extra time after hauling down Neville Roach and getting away with his second professional foul of the game.

A gutted Howe said afterwards: "It's not sour grapes at all, but the standard of refereeing is a real concern. The decisions he made, or rather didn't make, were comical. You cannot legislate for such decisions, but they end up costing you."

He added: "There is no way their 'keeper should have been on the pitch. They should have played for what would have been an hour without him.

"The laws of the game are clear. If a player denies an attacker a clear goal-scoring opportunity then he has to be sent-off. But the referee said that both fouls the 'keeper made were unintentional. That doesn't come into it!

"They were professional fouls and the rules are it should be a red card for that offence. Then he goes and sends off Rob, showing no consistency whatsoever!

"The tackle on Ricky in the first half was a straight red if ever I saw one, but there were lots of other incidents where he took no action.

"It's just very frustrating and something needs to be done, because it isn't the first time we have suffered from such decisions this season."

At Town matches, it is the job of the club's secretary Richard Trodd to assess the referee's performance and then make an official report.

He explained: "If you mark below a certain level, you have to send with it a written report as to why. The report has to be constructive.

"You cannot single out isolated incidents or just say I give him three out of 10 because he was very poor.

"The main part of my report will be that he failed to consistently apply the laws of the game over the 120 minutes."

And just when things couldn't get any worse, Town face new injury concerns that will stretch an already limited squad.

Oliver Burgess sustained a hamstring injury in the 103rd minute of Tuesday's game and will be out of action for at least one month. Scott Tarr and Ricky Allaway were also suffering with similar ailments during Tuesday's game, while Jason Bristow was substituted with a groin injury.

They are likely to join Neville Stamp and Efon Elad on the sidelines - pushing the available Town ranks to the limit.

Weather permitting, Town will face Bishop's Stortford at the Camrose tomorrow.

A beleaguered Howe said: "We don't have the strength in depth to cope with all these injuries. I may have to try to get some players in on loan, but it's going to be difficult to find them."

Although very disappointed with Tuesday's cup exit - Town's fourth against lower-league opposition this season in cup competitions - Howe took some positives from the display.

He was pleased with his players' effort and commitment, and particularly the quality of the second goal, and has now urged his crestfallen side to try to put the cup loss behind them.

He said: "It's going to be hard but we've got to get on with it."

See the football section of this website for a full match report.