RIVAL bosses Ollie Cherrett and Charlie Pierson unsurprisingly held differing views as Ringwood Town pocketed a point courtesy of a last-ditch penalty against Christchurch.

Luke Stone handed promotion-chasing Priory a two-goal lead but Elliot Peck halved the deficit moments before the end of an open first half.

Chances came and went after the interval but with time almost up, referee Tim Godfray awarded the hosts a spot kick after Luke Gogan hit the deck under the challenge of Richard Sands. Matt Steer made no mistake from 12 yards to seal a 2-2 draw.

The late twist drew criticism from a seething Cherrett not only for the decision but over how much added time had been played.

Cherrett told the Daily Echo: “It was in the 97th minute after he (Godfray) said he would be playing four minutes of added time. The decision itself was very dubious and that would be putting it nicely.

“Their lad didn’t dive, he just fell over and gave up on it but the referee blew for a penalty. Everybody was a bit stunned. It was a poor decision to be honest.

“The referee’s opinion was that Rich had gone to ground without getting the ball or the man but that the intent was there to foul him. Unfortunately, the referee is always right. As much as we may agree or disagree, he isn’t going to change his mind.

“His assistant said afterwards that he felt it was not a foul because he hadn’t touched the ball or player but my biggest gripe was the amount of time added.”

Pierson felt both managers had been too far from the incident to make a definitive call and said: “From where we were stood, it looked like a penalty but from the other side it might not have done.

“Christchurch felt aggrieved but they had some luck in the first half and maybe a bit went our way. We have had some penalties go against us that shouldn’t have this season so if it wasn’t a penalty, maybe that was just our bit of luck.

“I couldn’t be sure. Apparently their player didn’t get the ball but how much contact he made, I don’t know.”

The respective managers are known to get on well away from the heat of battle but they also disagreed on how the match panned out.

Assessing the action, Cherrett said: “We hit the bar a couple of times and should have been out of sight but that’s the way it goes.

“At 2-0 up, we were cruising but conceded a deflected goal just before half-time and to be fair to Charlie and his team, they had a right go in the second half. “

We defended superbly and I can’t remember Andy Knights having a save to make in the second half but then a lapse in concentration gave them their break.

"A decision that never should have been cost us points which was very disappointing but you never know, it might be a valuable point by the end of the season.”

Pierson said: “We played very well in the first half, their keeper was brilliant and had it been 5-3 at half-time, not many people could have complained.

“We didn’t play too well in the second half, it was scrappy but our keeper made a brilliant save and we won a penalty in the last minute but on reflection, we deserved a point.We came under some pressure at two down but I was as proud of my players."

Ringwood: Edmonds, Hardy, R Osman, Gogan, Johnston, Harris, Faulkner (Cowland, 80), Leadbetter (K Osman, 75), Peck, Chilman, Steer. Unused sub: Pierson.

Priory: Knights, Dand, Gage, Brian, Swindlehurst, Sands, Wrixton, Thompson (Chino-Smith, 70), Stone, Smith (Hughes, 86), Goward (Woolner, 75). Unused subs: Finnis, Randall.