BEACONSFIELD SYCOB manager Andy Hurley says the way his side were knocked out of The FA Cup last weekend made him ‘ashamed to be involved in football’.

His team lost 3-1 to Greenwich Borough, but Hurley has accused them of intimidation and blames the officials for allowing it to happen He said: “They came for a fight and things went on that make me ashamed to be involved in football.

“Our boys aren’t softies, but you had one of their players throw one of our 18-year-old lads down and then pin him to the ground with his fist in his face.

“The referee saw it but said it’s not a red card because he didn’t throw a punch.

“It was intimidation. It was everything that’s wrong with the game – and you had people from their bench telling them to do it.

“It wouldn’t happen in any other sport. That’s why football at this level is dying, people are just fed up with it.

“I’m more disappointed the officials let them get away with it, but they bottle it.”

Despite the loss, Beaconsfield are determined not to let it cast a shadow over their Southern League season.

They host table-topping Kettering tomorrow.

Hurley said: “We’ve had a discussion this week about how to deal with [matches like last weekend] and the boys will get stronger.

“Kettering are top of the league so it will be tough, but we don’t fear anybody.”