MAGPIES chairman Ken Stewart felt defender James Wilson was harshly sent off at Yate as his side slipped to their fifth successive league defeat.

Wilson saw red for two yellow cards, the first for dissent in the first half and the second in the second period following a 50-50 challenge.

Stewart, whose side fell behind to Jacob Cox’s third-minute strike, said: “James’s first yellow was for arguing to the ref.

“The linesman and ref failed to see a handball in the area, which it seemed everyone else in the ground saw.

“It was deliberate and if we’d scored from the penalty it would have made it 1-1.

“I don’t know what James said, but he got a yellow.

“The second was after he’d been involved in a 50-50 challenge in the last 15 minutes.

“But even Yate’s supporters felt it was a very harsh decision for the ref to give James a second yellow, which meant he had to go off.”

Stewart, who saw Cox grab Yate’s second goal from the penalty spot soon after the break, added: “We seem to have lost a bit of confidence at the moment.

“Their penalty seemed to suck out all our fight although James Stokoe hit the bar with a bullet header 20 minutes from the end.

“Andy Culliford also went close in the first half and had an effort well saved by their goalkeeper late in the second.”

The Echo was unable to contact Wimborne manager Alex Browne or assistant boss Darren Powell yesterday.

Wimborne Town: Walker-Harris, Wilson, Yelland (Curtis 70), Lockyer, Lloyd, Roast, Mitchell, Stokoe, James, Allen, Culliford (Clarke 80). Unused subs: Green, Barnes.