DORCHESTER Town assistant boss James Wood rued the Magpies’ ill fortune as Hartley Wintney claimed a 1-0 victory in the Pitching In Southern League Premier South.

Going into the game, the two sides occupied the final two safe positions in the league and were separated by three points.

Alfie Stanley hit the woodwork for Dorchester early on before a controversial high tackle by Josh Webb on Sam Bayston – the Magpies feeling it warranted red.

Luck evaded Dorchester once more when Jordan Edwards scored a deflected free-kick, defender Oakley Hanger flicking the ball beyond keeper Jack Bycroft.

And as Dorchester chased the game in the second half, Harry McGrath was upended on the break with no penalty given.

READ MORE: Hartley Wintney 1-0 Dorchester Town - match report

Speaking to Echosport, Wood had his say on the contentious moments.

He said: “Stripping the game back, I’m not going to comment on referees’ performances but we feel there was a tackle in the first half on Sam that – in what we’ve witnessed recently – should’ve been a red card.

“The referee’s booked him and we feel the tackle has probably warranted a red. It was high, it was reckless.

“Of course, that was first half and would’ve had a huge bearing. Then late on second half Harry has gone through in the middle and the player has got wrong side and hauled him to the ground.

“The referee’s waved play on, so when you’re in this situation you don’t tend to get the rub of the green, which is disappointing. You can’t do a lot about it at the moment.”

Dorchester are now winless in 10 league games and saw the gap to the bottom three close to two points after Kings Langley beat Harrow 1-0.

And Wood did not hide his frustration at the result.

“We’re extremely disappointed that we haven’t come away with anything,” he said.

“If you strip the game back to its bare bones we’ve lost the game to a set-piece. That’s basically the be all and end all – obviously it goes a bit more in-depth.

“First half I thought we were good in very difficult conditions, with a difficult pitch.

“We know with Hartley they play their pitch extremely well. Although we’ve gone in 1-0 down at half-time, I would say we were more on the front foot and possibly looked the better side.

“But it was very difficult to get into any sort of rhythm. The game was very bitty and difficult to maintain any pressure or attacks.

“Second half for whatever reason we were slightly on the back foot. They came into the game more.

“At 1-0 you’re always in the game and it wasn’t a game of great chances. It wasn’t a game of flowing football but we knew that was always going to be the case.

“We asked (the players) to be resolute, asked them to do the horrible things in the game well. For parts, we did that but unfortunately at other parts we didn’t.

“So, we’ve come away with nothing which is very disappointing.”