MARK Morris reckoned only drawing 1-1 at home with third-placed Lewes - a result that brought a temporary halt to his side's surge towards the play-off zone - was a measure of just how far his side has come this season.

"I'm disappointed and the lads are disappointed in the dressing room - but that's good because it shows how much our expectations have increased," said Morris.

"Lewes are right up there and their league position shows they are no mugs but we showed we could match them. A draw was a good result - but if we are honest we didn't do enough in the first half when our performance wasn't quite as good as we have come to expect lately.

"Our standards dropped so far in the first half that it was a miracle we went in 1-1 at half-time. We created more chances after the break when we upped the tempo and I thought we probably deserved a little bit more luck and could have won it in the end," said Morris.

He was critical of Broadstone referee Wendy Toms and her assistants because he felt they allowed Lewes to profit from go-slow tactics.

"Lewes came and tried to spoil and we didn't get any help from anyone when we tried to speed it along a bit," he said.

"The flow of the game was repeatedly stopped by the officials and to be honest as a manager I thought the game was boring.

"Whenever there was a free kick given it seemed to take about two minutes for the game to re-start and their goalkeeper should have brought his sandwiches with him because it looked as though he wanted to eat one every time he got the ball.

"It was stop-start, stop-start all the way through and that kind of game does not suit us at all."

Morris thought the penalty decision which gave Lewes an early advantage was " a bit harsh".

But skipper Alex Browne, whose challenge on Craig Dobson led to it, had stronger views.

"I just stood my ground and he ran into me and bounced off," said Browne.

"For me he went down far too easily and I don't think the ref was that sure because she took about five seconds to give it and that is a lot in football terms."

Browne also felt Toms failed to stamp her authority on the game and her failure to spot niggling incidents prompted a flare-up between several players as they left the pitch after the final whistle.

"There were little things going on all the way through but I didn't think she had good control of the game, hence what happened at the end," he said.

Browne agreed his side let themselves down with their first half display. But we got a half time rollicking and I thought we dominated the second and were as good then as we were bad before half time," he said.

"We are looking a little jaded after playing so many games recently but we have a week off now and with four games to go the play-offs are still within our reach.

"We will give it everything we have got and if it happens then brilliant, if it doesn't, it won't be for a lack of trying."