MANAGER Matt Welsh blamed referee Chris Sheppard after Wareham Rangers blew a two-goal lead to lose Saturday's stormy Purbeck derby with Swanage Town & Herston 5-4.

Trailing the topsy-turvy Dorset Senior Cup tie 2-1, Swans stole a late equaliser through Josh Reavenall-Nuete to force 'El Purbeckio' into an extra 30 minutes. 

Rangers seemingly sealed their passage with goals from substitute Micky Finch and Dave Best but when Best was dismissed for a second bookable offence, Chris Woods set about single-handedly changing the game. 

Swans substitute Woods calmly slotted home a minute later before providing the ammunition for George Sparrow's leveller on 110 minutes.

And when man in the middle Sheppard spotted a push in the penalty area with a minute of extra-time remaining, Woods kept his cool to notch the match winner from 12 yards.

Fuming Welsh had no complaints over Best's dismissal but felt that Swanage could have been reduced to nine men during the first half of normal time for similar incidents before slamming Poole-based Sheppard over the last-gasp penalty.

Welsh said: “I don't like to criticise officials but he was awful. Besty was a tiny bit late on both tackles so I had no argument with that but if the referee had been consistent, Swanage would have lost two players long before that.

“(Swanage's) Adam Richards came in with a waist-high challenge and he (Sheppard) gave the foul so it was mind boggling when he didn't give him a second booking.

On the penalty, Welsh added: “When the referee blew his whistle, even the Swanage players started to run back to their own goal. He said he saw a push but he must have been the only one because everyone was surprised.

“It was a big derby and these decisions change games. He got a few wrong and even the Swanage lads admitted that after the game.”

Swans boss Alan Lay admitted: “I felt the penalty was a bit soft but the referee was pretty decisive and certainly didn't hesitate. One another day, we might not have got it. The decision could have gone either way.”

Lay continued: “The sending off gave us a lifeline. We were pushing forward but that was the turning point for us. The fitness levels had dropped and it allowed us to push on and put another player up front.

“While I kept telling the lads we would get another chance, I didn't expect us to score three – it was pandemonium.

“It was a pure blood and thunder derby and a great way to win. It's our biggest game of the season, the boys all know each other well and it means an awful lot to them to get one over on their mates.”

When contacted, Sheppard politely declined to comment.

Swans: Hibbs, King, Stratford, Harding, Parrot, Robinson (Woods, 73), Harrop, Richards (Sparrow, 75), Williams, Reavenall-Nuete, Rose (Harvey, 82). Unused sub: Yerby.

Wareham: Lillington, Thompson, White, Beard, Carpenter (Merredew, 90), Hobbs, Gale (Finch, 55), Bartlett (Basing, 92), D Best, Harding, Parsons.