HAMWORTHY United boss Phil Simkin was left fuming after claiming a “stonewall” penalty that didn’t go his side’s way cost them victory following a 2-2 draw at Alton.

Hammers led 2-0 inside 10 minutes through strikes from Greg Horlock and Max Crow but they conceded a deflected goal just before half-time.

But Simkin claimed the referee brushed aside Warren Byerley’s strong shouts for a penalty when he was brought down inside the box late on.

Then Alton capitalised on their let-off by grabbing a dramatic last-gasp equaliser with a fabulous 30-yard shot.

Simkin said: “We went 2-0 up but just couldn’t get the third after Alton had got a fortuitous goal just before the break.

“We had chances to win it but the ref turned down a stonewall penalty after Warren had both feet taken away from him just as he was about to score our third.

“I couldn’t believe the officials were the only people inside the ground who couldn’t see it.

“Our goalkeeper had nothing to do in the second-half then in the last minute he was beaten by a long-range strike out of the blue.

“Fair play to Alton, they kept battling, but we should have won and look at it as two points dropped.

“As our chairman said after the game, it’s a mark of how far we have come if we are disappointed to draw away.

“In the last two weeks we’ve been to Horndean, Alresford, Cowes and Alton and got eight points, and quite honestly I would have settled for that at the start of those games.”

Hamworthy United: Peters, Horlock, White, Cherrett, Kenway, Lockyer, Dovell, Crow, Jackson, Byerley, Dancer (Crossin 85). Unused subs: Merritt, Yelland.