Ringwood Town manager Wayne Lockey said he expected to get into hot water after pointing the finger at the referee following his team’s controversial clash on Saturday.

Lockey’s men were denied their first victory of the season when Team Solent claimed a dramatic 3-3 draw.

The Ringwood boss claimed official Brian Bolton awarded a number of key decisions that cost his team maximum points.

Sean Leadbetter, already booked for conceding a first-half spot kick that the visitors missed, received a second yellow for handball in the penalty area on 77 minutes. Mike Wheeler converted as Solent cancelled out Kane Chattey’s opener.

Lucasz Labedzki and Jordan Frewin exchanged strikes late on before Ringwood’s Dan Morrell looked to have sealed victory in the last minute.

But there was further controversy to come as Solent levelled through Charlie Pierson’s own goal seven minutes into added time, after a hotly disputed corner call had gone against Ringwood.

Lockey said: “It wasn’t the best display I have ever seen from an official.

“I am going to get into trouble. We are trying to respect the referees as much as we can but it has to be a two-way street.”

The Echo was unable to contact referee Bolton for a comment.

Ringwood: T Taylor, Marks, Leadbetter, Hetherington, Pierson, Tyler, Labedzki, Eley, Chattey (Manning, 90), Morrell, Kay (Osman, 81). Unused subs: O’Connor, Hawkins.

• Nathan Saxby and Mike Haskell (2) earned Verwood Town a first league win of the season.

Potters followed up their 1-1 draw at Pewsey Vale in midweek with a 3-1 victory at Fleet Spurs.