AFC Telford boss Rob Smith vents his fury

A makeshift Bucks side - changed further after Telford suffered three injuries before the hour mark - heroically pulled level at top-half side Chorley, before conceding an 88th minute spot-kick.

Sub Jack Rea was adjudged to have brought down Chorley livewire Darren Stephenson, a decision which bewildered Smith, the hosts' management team and most of the 1,200-strong Victory Ground crowd.

The Bucks boss said: "I don't think it was a fair result because we were 1-1 and I just cannot believe the decision that the referee has given.

"He's still adamant it's a penalty. The Chorley manager is laughing, Chorley fans are coming up to us saying everybody in the ground thought it was a joke decision.

"The ball has diverted from the tackle, I've never seen anything like it.

"People can say that there's nothing resting on the game but for me that's absolutely scandalous decision - what about if something had rested on that?

"If a referee gets something like that wrong then I seriously haven't got much hope for them. I'm so annoyed about that decision it's frightening."

Josh Wilson's second-half header had drawn the Bucks level in Lancashire, after three members of their defence were forced off with injuries.

But fortunately for the Bucks, who miraculously secured their National League North status last week against Worcester City - the decision mattered little.

"The linesman told Darren Campion he didn't think it was a penalty and then they've just got their story straight at the end they both think it was a penalty now," the New Bucks Head chief added.

"There are two people out of a massive crowd here that thought it was a penalty. Even the Chorley players are laughing about it. I don't find it funny really.

"They're paid to get things like that right, it wasn't even remotely a decision to make - it was a corner and that was it, Jack's took the ball.

"I'll get over it I suppose, because fortunately for the referee and us nothing did matter on it."