BOSS Tom Killick reflected on a “bizarre chain of events” as Poole Town registered back-to-back away wins thanks to a 2-1 victory over Southern League South rivals Basingstoke Town.

Dolphins were on the right side of a highly-controversial refereeing decision, described as “an absolute disgrace” by Dragons manager Jason Bristow.

Leading 1-0 through Will Spetch’s header from a Steve Devlin cross deep in first-half stoppage-time, Poole thought the hosts had levelled through Sam Argent just 70 seconds after the interval.

But after Basingstoke players had celebrated and Poole players were lining up for the restart, referee Tristan Greaves decided to rule out the effort having consulted his assistant.

To the disbelief of the Camrose crowd, the official pulled back play and awarded the hosts a free-kick just outside their own 18-yard box for a Poole offside from a previous attack.

As tempers boiled over, Dragons captain Charlie Kennedy was shown a yellow and then red card – only for the sending off to be reversed when Greaves was told he had not previously booked the Basingstoke man.

Bristow told the Basingstoke Gazette: “I have never seen anything like this before, awarding a free-kick to us after we had scored at the other end of the pitch.

“He told me afterwards he had got it wrong, but it cost us the game. It was an absolute disgrace. I felt we would have gone and won after scoring.”

Basingstoke also claimed Marvin Brooks’s 68th-minute second goal for Poole should have been ruled out for offside, while Poole were aggrieved when Spetch saw red for a second yellow in the closing stages.

The defender, who will receive an automatic one-match ban, was judged to have fouled Sam Smart in the penalty area, with Dean Stow netting the resultant spot-kick to set up a grandstand finish.

Killick, who served the last of a three-game touchline ban, told the Daily Echo: “It was one of those head-scratching games in terms of things that went on.

“The referee had a very difficult time and I think Basingstoke were more upset than we were. I don’t think I have ever seen a goal chalked off so long after a potential infringement. Fair play to the referee for having the courage to over-rule it.”

However, Killick did not agree with the decision to award Basingstoke a spot-kick and suggested “everyone in the ground, including their team, knew it wasn’t a penalty”.

Discussing the game, Killick added: “Basingstoke have a lot of young players and are technically very good. They will cause teams problems.

“After losing on the opening day to Hartley Wintney, bouncing back with two away wins has been very positive.”

Adam Grange, who was carried off after landing awkwardly, was given the all-clear and later returned to the dugout to watch the second half.

Dolphins: Cairney, Alawode-Williams, Leslie-Smith, Whisken, Spetch, Devlin (Pettefer, 48), Moore, Griffin, Clarke (Waters, 90), Grange (Balmer, 45), Brooks. Unused subs: Hubbard, Hutchings (g/k).