SYDENHAMS Wessex officials have hit back at outspoken Gosport manager Alex Pike following his criticism of referees in their league.

Pike lashed out at Isle of Wight-based official Steve Thorne who took charge of his side's Boxing Day clash at Cams Alders against Fareham Town.

And his criticism of the official for "dictating the outcome of the game" was more eye-opening because his team actually won 2-0.

Fareham ended the game with nine men, Pike was ordered from the dugout and nine players were booked - five from Gosport.

Of the nine cautions, two were for dissent and the rest for fouls and unsportsmanlike behaviour such as kicking the ball away and refusing to allow a free-kick to be taken.

"We as clubs have to understand we are a feeder league and the best referees are going to get promoted up to the next level," Pike said.

"But that is no reason why we should not have high standards at this level.

"The problem I have got with certain referees is that I don't know anyone who pays to come and watch the referee, except for maybe the referee's dad.

"This game is all about the players and the referee we had at Fareham was over-zealous.

"I hope he went away and looked at his own performance and learns from it."

Pike added: "You could not talk to him.

"What are we coming to if we can't talk to a ref?"

But Wessex League chairman Alf Peckham dismissed the criticism of refereeing standards in the league.

"I understand the quality of referees in the league is quite good," he said.

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