DORCHESTER Town manager Craig Laird says that the penalty decision has cost them two points after their draw with King’s Lynn Town.

Linnets’ captain Michael Clunan scored an equaliser from the spot after Toby Down was given a straight red card for his challenge, and the Magpies’ manager says the decision was a game-changer.

He said: “It feels like a loss.

“With eight minutes to go, why would someone make a challenge like that in the box? I haven’t seen it and if he has done something petulant we’ll have a word with Toby.

“But it’s cost us two points, which is important over a season. Especially at this time of year when we’re trying to move things on, the lads are disappointed.

“It would be different if they’d cut us open and scored a great goal but it was such a soft penalty, no-one knew what was going on other than the referee.

“It’s just disappointing really that we had three points taken away from us.”

The Magpies showed glimpses of attacking threat, most notably through Jake Mawford who broke the offside trap before lobbing the goalkeeper from the corner of the penalty area, and Laird was pleased with what he saw.

He said: “We got forward quite well, especially in the second half we looked a bit more of a threat.

“It was a great finish from Jake. It could have easily bounced over but he took it really well and showed great composure and skill to score.

“We’ve spoken about making deep runs and breaking past Phil (Ormrod) and we wanted to do that because they held a high line, and he got in there with a great run and a great finish.

“It should have been the goal that won us the game and that’s why we’re disappointed.”