Ainsworth demands full-time referees
WYCOMBE boss Gareth Ainsworth called for full-time, professional referees after the Chairboys were denied a first away win of the season by Matt Green’s seventh goal of the season.
Green pounced nine minutes from time, lashing home a loose ball from Mal Benning’s free-kick, to cancel out Matthew Bloomfield’s 23rd-minute breakthrough.
But Ainsworth, whose side have just two points from seven away matches, said: “There was a blatant push (on Danny Rowe) for their goal and I disagree with the decision for the free-kick that led to it.
“Unless referees get professional in League One and Two, then we will not have a true reflection of every game.
“That is no slight on anyone. Just please get them professional because we are all professionals.
“I am proud of the players. We played all of the good stuff in the first half and a lot of it in the second half.
“We ground out a result and that is fantastic. I am pleased for the boys and the fans as we could have come away with nothing.”
Mansfield might have taken an early lead when Rowe cleared Pat Hoban’s goal-bound shot off the line.
But the visitors dominated the rest of the first half. Dominic Gape’s drive was beaten away by Scott Shearer and hesitant defending allowed Paul Hayes to cross to Cowan-Hall, who failed to convert at the far post.
There was no let-off when another good Hayes pass put Bloomfield clear to roll his finish past Scott Shearer from 12 yards.
Half-time substitute Green led the home fightback, hooking a Chris Clements freekick past the post and heading fellow substitute Jack Thomas’ pinpoint cross wide when unmarked.
Benning blasted a 25-yard piledriver over and saw a curling drive tipped away, before his free-kick set up the late equaliser.
Stags boss Adam Murray said his players failed to communicate.
“For the first 60 minutes it was like we were stuck in sludge. No one spoke. There was no fire, no aggression, no will to run,” he said.
“The game was there for us to win. If we had wanted it for the first 60 minutes like we did for the last 30, then we win that game.
“We missed Jamie McGuire (injured) – his leadership, his voice and his aggressiveness were lacking.
“It was a poor game, apart from the last 30 minutes when we actually looked good.”