BOSS Matty Holmes insisted home goalkeeper Lenny Pidgeley could have seen red during Wimborne Town’s 3-1 defeat at Farnborough.

Holmes described as a “big turning point” referee Tom Ellsmore’s decision to keep the former Chelsea stopper on the pitch during their first game in Southern League South.

Holmes believed Pidgeley had wiped out striker Toby Holmes with the score at 0-0 after just 15 minutes at Cherrywood Road.

He told the Daily Echo: “Maybe the referee’s decision to keep the keeper on the pitch was a big turning point but he deemed just to book him.

“The two centre-backs were a yard behind Toby, so he would have got in on goal. I just don’t know why the referee didn’t speak to the linesman.

“You feel that if a forward has gone through, clips it over the top and is about to go round the other side but got taken out, anyone would deem it’s a red card but, if it’s not, you have to get on with it.”

Magpies took the lead through striker Holmes five minutes later.

The frontman, who scored 60 goals last season, opened his account with a neat finish after latching on to a ball over the top.

Visitors Wimborne then spurned a glorious chance to double their advantage.

Jack Lovell was hauled to the floor after surging into the penalty area, meaning referee Ellsmore pointed to the spot.

Lovell picked himself up to take aim from 12 yards but Pidgeley guessed the right way and stuck out a left mitt to thwart the effort.

Magpies then suffered a devastating triple blow in the space of 17 minutes.

Boro’s Kurtis Cumberbatch converted from close range to restore parity after Luke Robertson had galloped down the left flank to cross.

Robertson himself then tapped home a second before the goal of the game from Michael Elias-Fernandes.

A classy turn from inside his own half allowed him to produce a lung-busting run at goal before firing a left-foot strike past Wimborne goalkeeper Gerard Benfield to make it 3-1.

Assessing his team’s display, Holmes added: “I thought we were excellent in the first half. We did really well and the game plan was working a treat. We caused them all sorts of problems.

“But we had a 20-minute spell where we had to learn to weather storms a little bit, especially at this level.

“We are going to be learning very quickly about teams and how we are going to deal with games.

“Farnborough have invested, they had some good players in their side and we matched them. We have nothing to fear, we can just try to play our game and be positive.”

Wimborne were also rocked by a hip injury to full-back Lewis Tallack, who was replaced by Ben Walker during the second period.

He is set to be assessed ahead of the Cuthbury club’s Dorset derby at home against Dorchester Town on Tuesday (7.45pm).

Magpies: Benfield, Tallack (Walker), Lee, Davidson, Arnold, Kellaway (Young), Maybury, L Holmes, T Holmes, Burbidge, Lovell. Unused subs: Francis, Penny, Walsh (g/k).