AGHAST Wimborne Town players “swore blind” that Chesham United’s equaliser should not have stood in the 1-1 draw at the Meadow.

Magpies had taken the lead seven minutes after the break when a well-worked corner resulted in Luke Burbidge’s cross being headed home by Sam Davidson.

But it was not long before Chesham’s Ben Crilley was judged to have forced the ball across the line in a crowded penalty area.

That effort denied Wimborne the chance to climb out of the Southern League South relegation zone.

Magpies boss Matty Holmes told the Daily Echo: “Our lads swore blind that it wasn’t over the line, which is really disappointing.

“The linesman flagged as the ball went over but there were so many bodies in there. I couldn’t see from where I was because I was quite far away.

“Our lads were protesting and saying there was no way it had gone in.

“The referee was in a good position and did not blow his whistle to signal a goal. That’s the bit of luck you don’t get when things aren’t going your way.”

Although disappointed not to hold on for victory, Holmes was content that his team were able to journey home to Dorset with something to show for their efforts.

He said: “With the way results have been going, it was nice to get a point on the road, even though Chesham are bottom.

“It was a game of lots of chances for both teams. Gerard Benfield made a couple of good saves but we had one cleared off the line in the first half and another good opportunity which was missed.

“I was really pleased with the second half. We created lots of chances and went 1-0 up through a great header but, unfortunately, couldn’t hold on.

“There were some missed opportunities in the second half, which cost us.

“But the boys showed a great spirit after the poor game against Poole and I was delighted with the application.”

Holmes insists there is plenty of time for his promoted team to pull away from trouble and says he will continue to give his players time to adapt.

He said: “We have had to take a couple of results on the chin. We have to keep learning and keep upbeat.

“It’s still early days. It’s going to take time to adjust and we have to believe in what we’re doing and keep plugging away.

“If I get to a point where we don’t feel we are competing, then we will change but at the moment it is what it is.

“We have a really sound, stable club which is the most important thing.

“We haven’t even played a quarter of the teams yet. We have a lot of tough games to come and we will find out which boys are able to cope as the season goes along.”

Magpies: Benfield, Lee (Penny, 65), Tallack, Davidson, Maybury, Kellaway, Stokoe, Young (Francis, 75), T Holmes, Burbidge, Lovell. Unused subs: Arnold, Walsh, Owen.