DORCHESTER Town manager Glenn Howes gave plaudits to Hayes & Yeading United, labelling the Middlesex side as the “best team we’ve faced this season”.

Howes witnessed the Pitching In Southern League Premier South title hopefuls win 3-0 as Francis Amartey grabbed a brace after Moses Emmanuel’s 10th-minute penalty.

Dorchester had chances twice through Olaf Kozsela, while Charlie Gunson saw a shot saved.

But Hayes also hit the bar through Amos Nasha and Charlie Wassmer had a shot cleared off the line before the Magpies’ Ash Wells saw red for a second bookable offence.

Speaking to Echosport, Howes was magnanimous in defeat.

“I do feel you have to give the opposition a significant amount of plaudits,” he said.

READ MORE: Hayes & Yeading United 3-0 Dorchester Town - match report

“They’re a very good side and they are where they are for a really good reason. I would go as far as saying they’re the best team we’ve faced this season.

“However, considering that, I thought two goals were preventable. They were uncharacteristic team mistakes and weren’t individuals errors.

“There were two or three errors that presented them their goals. However, I’m not sure whether we’d have enough to stay in the game.

“We had two or three chances, not great chances, but we made the keeper work. I just felt to get something out of the game we’d have to convert those chances.

“Second half we hit them on the counter a couple of times. We failed to execute the final pass. It was a difficult afternoon for us.”

Howes had no complaints about the penalty, for which Wells was booked, but did have grievances with the experienced defender’s second yellow card.

“I don’t think we have any qualms about the decision,” he said. “I just felt as a team we shouldn’t have put ourselves in that position for us to do the emergency defending.

“We vacated the area far too easily. There was no protection at all. For them to pass through us like they did, it’s a bit uncharacteristic.

“I just felt we shouldn’t have put (Wells) in that position.

“I didn’t think the lad deserved to be sent off. Ash has competed for the ball aerially, he’s won the header and there’s been contact from both players.

“Unfortunately the referee has decided to show Ashley a red card. He’s right by the main stand with a lot of supporters who were quite vocal.

“That might’ve forced the issue, but I thought Ash was extremely unfortunate.”