WOOTTON Bassett manager Jeff Roberts was at loggerheads with a referee for the second time in a week after he felt his side had a point snatched from their grasp.

Roberts, who claimed Bassett were ‘robbed’ of a draw against Reading nine days ago by the key decisions of the match official, was irritated again following Saturday’s 2-1 loss to Hellenic Premier high-flyers Ardley.

The boss felt the decision to award a spot kick 11 minutes from the end when an Ardley player cut across Craig Bowden and crashed to the floor, was harsh.

“We should have got a point, it was a soft penalty,” said Roberts.

“We had a bit of an argument with the ref about it because the linesman gave a corner and he was much nearer the play.

“Matey boy went down in the box and once the ref’s given it he’s never going to change his mind. But the linesman said to us afterwards that it was never a penalty.”

Ardley took a 1-0 lead into the break thanks to Ben Thomas, who headed home from close in after a corner was flicked on.

Bassett equalised in the second half when Tyler Sheppard skipped past a couple of challenges and slotted past the keeper.

But Bowden was penalised in the closing stages and the penalty was duly converted to condemn Bassett to their third straight defeat.

“It’s just not running our way at the moment and we’ve got to get our chins up,” continued Roberts. “We’ve brought in so many players and it’s about getting them to gel together.

“We need to get some consistency and the ability to grind out results sometimes, but we know we’ve got thee quality in our side.”

The manager is hopeful of bringing in a couple of new recruits in the next week as he made seven-day approaches for midfielders from Fairford and Corsham on Thursday.

Bassett now face a tough run of four away games in the league, which will be split up by a second-round home tie against Bemerton in the second round of the Wiltshire Senior Cup.