CO-MANAGER Graham Speechley-Price didn’t know whether to laugh or cry as battling Bashley suffered a 1-0 defeat to table-topping Stratford Town.

Simeon Tulloch’s controversial 18th-minute strike sent the visitors six points clear at the Southern South & West summit but Speechley-Price argued his strugglers had deserved more.

“We were really unlucky,” said the Bash boss. “I felt we were worth a point, probably even a win but decisions went against us at key times.

“Their lad scooped the ball into the net with his hand but the referee and his assistant were both unsighted and missed it.

“Later in the game, we felt we should have had a penalty when Nuno Pereira was brought down but the foul was given outside the box.

"I wouldn’t attach any blame to the officials, though, as it was one of those things where we didn’t get the breaks on the day.”

Bash pushed for an equaliser in the second half with Leighton Speechley-Price denied by a goal-line clearance before Pereira rolled an effort marginally wide.

Speechley-Price added: “I was really pleased with the performance.

“After beating Taunton, the challenge was to keep playing well and we did that. We have definitely turned the corner.”

Bash: Maher, Morse, Bada, Oldring, Thoroughgood, Hall (Morris, 74), L Speechley-Price, Bosma, Makoni (Kinley, 69), M Speechley-Price (Brading, 62), Pereira.