FURIOUS boss Ken Vaughan ripped into referee Cameron Lucas over the controversial penalty call which sparked Bemerton's FA Cup fightback at Bournemouth Poppies.

Sam Pekun's smart turn and finish edged Poppies in front after a cagey start at Victoria Park last night but Lucas stunned most of the crowd by pointing to the spot following a seemingly innocuous collision between Lewis Burgis and Bemerton's Jack Slade.

Tom Roberts rattled home from 12 yards and the visitors took control with sweet strikes from Jack Eves and Neil Williams either side of the break.

Fawzi Saadi halved the deficit midway through the second half but Poppies could not find a leveller during a grandstand finish with Vaughan adamant Lucas had set the wheels in motion for his side's 3-2 reverse.

“We started out nicely and played some good football but the penalty killed us,” said Vaughan.

“It was never a penalty in a million years, I was absolutely gobsmacked. It has to be the worst penalty decision I've seen in my life by far.

“Lewis was just looking at the ball, he was going to head it. He (Lucas) said that Lewis had looked at the player and pushed him but he would have needed eyes in the back of his head.

“He could try to explain that for a lifetime without convincing me. I have been on the end of a few bad ones and we have got away with a few as well but this one topped the lot.”

Vaughan continued: “There was a lot at stake and I firmly believed the opening goal would put us in control of the game. It was all set to turn out that way before he gave the penalty.

“It was a shame because there wasn't much between the sides, both had their strengths and weaknesses and it could have gone all the way.

“We did well and I was pleased with every one of the players. Everybody put in a shift.”

Poppies: Vaughan, Ayrton, Martinez (Pearce, 74), Burgis, Doe, Saadi, Robinson (Arthur, h-t), Bassiriki (Dibigbo, 69), Pekun, Fairbrother, Khider. Unused subs: Meyer, Rhodes.