Somerset Eagles 0

Southampton Rangers 0

Kenny Thompson strongly criticised the "incompetent" officiating during yesterday's match between Somerset Eagles and Southampton Rangers after his team were denied a blatant penalty.

Thompson watched in disbelief midway through the second half as referee Alton Reid waved away Eagles' appeals after Jason Smith hauled down Jonathon Bean in the box as he rounded the Rangers goalkeeper.

"It was a horrible miscall," said Thompson.

"It was an obvious penalty and I don't how the referee and his assistant missed it. It's not about cheating or anything like that, it's about incompetence."

The poor decision sparked some ugly scenes as the Eagles bench continued their protests throughout the second half, while striker Antwan Russell was sent off after leaving Rangers' Kemon Simons with a bloody mouth following a headbutt.

"Players get frustrated and tempers then boil over," Thompson said of Rusell's sending off.

Rangers were also reduced to ten men in the second period when Jamel Hill was dismissed for two bookable offences.

Eagles enjoyed most of the possession yesterday at White Hill Field but the quality of their final ball was, for the most part, lacking.

Twice in the first half Adophus Lambert forced decent saves from 'keeper Smith as Eagles pushed for an opener.

Rangers' best chance came courtesy of a virtuoso piece of skill from striker Rohaan Simons who smacked a volley from distance against the crossbar.

After the break Eagles continued to cause Rangers' problems with the impressive Troy Tucker firing wide and Russell missing a one-on-one chance which Smith saved with his legs.

In the final minute substitute Shakir Smith almost gave Eagles all three points when his free-kick cannoned off the bar.

"Sure, we were guilty of missing chances, but that's football," added Thompson. "We should have had a penalty and their 'keeper should have been sent off."

Somerset Eagles: M.Dill, I.Fubler, A.Rocker, J.Bather (S.Smith, 75), A.Lambert (A.Grant, 78), P.Russell, M.Rojas, Troy Tucker, J. Bean (K.Williams, 80), D.Dowling, A.Russell

Substitutes not used: Tamauri Tucker, E.Trott, J.Davis

Yellow cards: Troy Tucker,

Red cards: A.Russell

Southampton Rangers: J.Smith, J.Hill, K.Tucker M.Williams, K.Simmons, O.Hart, J.Dill, R.Simmons, T.Brown (A,Raynor, 55), M.Iris D.Russell

Substitutes not used: G.Simons, T.Flood, A.Raynor, Y.Tucker, J.Smith

Referee: A.Reid

Red card: J.Hill

Man-of-the-match: Troy Tucker (Eagles)