Notts County head coach Ian Burchnall claimed a first-half penalty decision changed the course of the game as his side crashed to a disappointing 3-1 defeat at fourth-bottom Aldershot Town.
Victory secured the Shots’ National League survival but dealt what could be a fatal blow to the Magpies’ hopes of securing third place and a home play-off semi-final.
In fact defeat left Notts with work still to do just to secure their place in the play-offs, and Burchnall was left frustrated by a controversial decision by referee Gary Parsons which denied his team a second spot-kick of the game and the chance to go 2-1 up.
Cal Roberts had already scored from the spot, after Ruben Rodrigues was tripped in the box, cancelling out Mikael Ndjoli’s early opener for the home side, when the controversial incident happened in the 30th minute.
Aaron Nemane worked his way into the box on the left and was bundled off the ball in what looked a clear foul, but Parsons brushed aside Notts’ protests and awarded a goal kick.
“We get ourselves back in it at 1-1 and we should have a penalty - it’s as clear a penalty as you are going to see all year,” said Burchnall.
“At 1-1, if we can get ahead they have to come out and it changes the whole dynamic of the game, so I’m extremely frustrated about that decision.”
There was some discussion about Notts’ first penalty award being generous, but Burchnall said: “The first one is a penalty, I’ve seen it back, and the second one is stonewall.
“The fourth official agreed with me but said it’s always more difficult to give the second one. I don’t understand that and it cost us, because if you come across a team who sit low and you do create something and open them up, you need to take that chance and then that changes the game dynamic.
“They then got ahead and it was hard to break them down in the second half.”
Burchnall was also unhappy with the sending off of Dion Kelly-Evans for a second bookable offence deep into second-half added time.
“Dion screens the ball out and it’s more a foul on him, I was expecting a foul for us, and he sends Dion off. This is what we have to put up with today. We were not good enough but we were certainly not helped from that department.”
Despite the controversial decisions, Burchnall admitted he was unhappy with the performance.
“It was very disappointing,” he said. “We knew we were playing against a team who needed a result today to stay up so we knew they would be very competitive, and they were.
“They sat virtually every one behind the ball and had a centre forward who can counter and be a threat.
“The opening goal in these sort of games is really important and we gave it to them, then it becomes difficult because they continue with their game plan and we don’t move the ball with enough speed and don’t create enough against a really well organised low defence.
“They countered very well and exploited the space we left and that’s disappointing because we have talked about that.
“Their first goal comes from a switch of play and their second is a good counter attack which comes from us losing the ball.
“But in the final ten minutes we are obviously gambling hugely to try to get something and you leave yourself with a lot of space to defend.
“That played into their hands as they brought on players who were powerful and quick and it’s an incredible third goal that seals it.”
