A DUBIOUS umpiring decision cost Rhyl & District dearly as they fell 2-1 to league leaders Deeside Ramblers in a game they deserved to at least draw.
With two quality teams locked on 1-1 after Danny Bell had equalised with a rare Rhyl goal five minutes into the second half, the crucial moment came when Deeside were remarkably awarded a penalty flick for an infringement that should only have warranted a short corner at the most.
Rhyl’s Adam Judge said: “It allowed them to go in front and left us feeling we had been robbed. Even their players said they were very fortunate to beat us and told us we were the first side to have gone there all season and stopped them playing. Andy Pierce hit a post with a great effort and saw the ball roll along their goalline before being cleared so we definitely believe we were worth a point - and so did they.”
Now Rhyl, with games in hand, have a great chance to get back into the promotion frame with a back-to-back home double coming up this weekend. First, they take on Bowden on Saturday followed by a visit from Mossley Hill on Sunday. Said Judge: “We need to take full advantage and make up for this injustice.”