‘Massive call’ for Dos as Hawks miss out
Last-day agony at Westleigh Park as Chippenham book a play-off spot
Paul Doswell felt his Hawks side were denied a 'nailed on' penalty as they failed to clinch a National League South play-off finish with a 2-0 home defeat to Chippenham on the final day.
But the Hawks boss insisted the eighth place where his men ended at the campaign's conclusion was where they 'deserved' to sit after the 40-game sixth-tier season.
Jordan Young's secondhalf double made sure it was Chippenham who leapfrogged Hawks on the last day of the regular season to finish seventh and head into the play-offs with victory at Westleigh Park.
Yet Doswell was left angered by the moment he believes could have turned the tide back in his side's favour against the Bluebirds.
Jake McCarthy went to ground in a crowded penalty area after a corner had been delivered on 76 minutes, under what Doswell described as a ‘two-handed push’ on the midfielder.
But there was nothing doing for referee Dale Wootton, who allowed play to go on, with Young thundering home after a quick counter less than a minute later to land a killer blow.
And Doswell believes that was a 'massive call' that went against his men on a forgettable final day.
‘We all stopped waiting for the penalty, it wasn't given, that's a big call in the game from the referee,’ he stressed.
‘I think you've got to look at that massive call (penalty appeal) - it was a two-handed push on McCarthy, who was going to head it in. It's a nailed on penalty. He's been two-handed pushed in the back.
‘That would have been a penalty for us at 1-0, they've gone and broken from that (then scored).’
Doswell conceded missing out on the play-offs after an end of season run which had seen them suffer just two defeats in 15 matches was a ‘bitter pill to swallow’.
But he was adamant his squad could have no complaints where they finished up this term.
Doswell added: ‘It was a fantastic start from us in the first 15 minutes. ‘The game then settled down into a standard half, they had one chance from a Ben Shroll mistake, we had three or four efforts just wide.
‘Scotty Rendell should have scored in the first minutes with a flicked header, Robbo (James Roberts), when the ball was coming down to him, their lad has made a great block and it's gone out for a corner.
‘There were lots of half opportunities, second half - I thought Rooney (Paul) coming off with a hamstring was a blow.
‘It's a bitter pill to swallow (missing out on play-offs) but, ultimately, you finish where you deserve to after 40 games.
‘This year, we finished eighth, ultimately, that's where we deserved to finish.’