Cooper aggrieved by refereeing decisions which cost Windsor against Egham Town

Excellence Muhemba (left)

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Windsor boss Mark Cooper admitted this week he is extremely aggrieved that a ‘handful of refereeing decisions’ cost his side in Saturday's 1-0 defeat to Egham Town at the Runnymede Stadium.

The Royalists boss felt his side were deserving of at least a draw, however, in the 75th minute, stand-in keeper Conaill Ryan was judged to have impeded Brendan Matthew as he ran into the box and the officials awarded Egham a contentious penalty which they converted.

To compound matters, Cooper and his men had been denied a spot-kick of their own moments before when Excellence Muhemba appeared to be brought down by the Sarnies' last defender as he attempted to run through on goal.

“It was down to the officials and no-one else that we didn’t get anything from the game,” said Cooper earlier this week.

“I don’t think you will be able to remember the last time I complained about them. To come away with nothing when the boys acquitted themselves so very well is enormously frustrating.

“It came down to a handful of refereeing decisions. I’ve looked back at the penalty, put it in slow-motion, and seen it from all different angles. No-one else on the pitch thought it was a penalty apart from the referee.

“The linesman, who was in a better position, didn’t give it, and their player admitted it wasn’t a penalty after the game. What made things worse is that they should have had a player sent off before.

“Ex (Excellence Muhemba) was through on goal and was fouled by the last defender. The referee said it might not have been the last defender but no-one else on the pitch agreed. It was a clear red card, and we should have got a penalty ourselves.

“I was left feeling extremely aggrieved. It’s bitterly disappointing to come away empty-handed especially considering how much the boys put into the game. To have no reward from the effort, the endeavour, and the hard work we put in does leave you hugely frustrated.”

Adding injury to insult, Cooper now has an abundance of injuries to contend with before Windsor’s game at home to Southall on Saturday.

They’re currently set to be without Dave Hoar (back), Ben Hall (knee), Luke Paris (shoulder), Muhemba (head) and George Gould (groin) through injury.

“All of a sudden, we’re looking a bit thin but hopefully we will have a few back before Saturday,” said Cooper. “It’s another big game against a side that are chasing promotion in the league. They will be a tough challenge, no question about it.

“We haven’t played them this season so will still have to play them at their place after this weekend. They’re still in the FA Vase and, like I said, are going well in the league.”