MARLOW manager Mark Bartley isn’t one for sour grapes, but days after Saturday’s defeat to Southern League Central leaders Hanwell he was still spitting feathers.

His team went down 2-1, but the Blues boss has laid the blame squarely at the officials’ feet after a red card for defender Paul Rees turning the tide of the game.

Bartley said: “The referee cost us big time. We’d worked out a way to play against them and after 40 minutes it was working.

“We were the better side and creating opportunities.

“But then Paul Rees was sent off. I put my arms up when he blew the whistle because I didn’t even think it was a foul, let alone a yellow card, let alone a red card.”

The score was 0-0 then, but within minutes Hanwell went in front and although Lee Barney equalised in the second half the ten men were eventually worn down in the final ten minutes.

Bartley said: “That defeat is the one that has been the most difficult to take since I became manager.

“They’re top of the league, but we were better than them and losing is pretty hard to take after such a good performance.

“If we haven’t played well I say we haven’t played well. If the players aren’t doing it I’ll say so.

“But I thought winning at Bedford two weekends ago was our best performance since I’ve been at the club and on Saturday I thought we were even better than that for 40 minutes.”

Marlow can put it right against Potters Bar Town on Saturday, before taking on Burnham in the first of two midweek cup matches.

They play their neighbours in The FA Trophy next Tuesday before the pair face off again a week later in the League Cup.