GOALKEEPER Mark Hervin and manager Steve White were left fuming at Twerton Park on Tuesday night after Chippenham and were robbed of three points by Bath City's controversial equaliser.

Hervin easily caught a cross and took a step back when he was pushed by a City player.

To the surprise of the Chippenham players the linesman waved his flag and indicated to the referee that the ball had crossed the line.

Hervin said: "There was no way in my mind the ball crossed the line. If anything it should have been a foul as I was pushed.

"Before the goal had been given the player even laughed. The linesman was not even up with play. The referee had a better view and he was stood by the penalty spot. The ref should have overruled his linesman."

White said: "It was an amazing decision from the linesman who I did not think was up with play, but you win some and you lose some.

"We will have to live with it, that is frustrating because we played some fantastic stuff."

He said that life goes on. "We are just confused about situations. I did think the referee had a good game."

Hervin added: "The fans were fantastic like they have been all season, it is a shame they did not get to see us win.

"Before the match we would have taken a point as Twerton is a difficult place to come. But we are disappointed that we lost two points in this fashion."

Chippenham striker Sam Allison was not happy with his sending off for two yellow cards.

Allison's second yellow card was clouded in doubt as it appeared that the striker never made contact with his marker.

White said: "Sam told me that he did not touch the other player. Unfortunately I looked away for a split second and did not see it. But Sam is not happy with his red card."

Allison now faces at least a two match ban but White does not see the point of launching an appeal.

"I don't think we will be filing an appeal. There is a mountain of administration to do and it is rare that the decision is overturned. "

White was more concerned with the clever play of the Bath players.

"Scott Partridge was making lots of clever fouls that the referee did not pick up on. He got away with a great deal more than our centre forwards did.

"He is an ex-pro and I knew Scott from my days at Cardiff, he is a crafty player.

"I had to have a chat with the referee at half-time to be aware of him.

"We are just confused about the tolerance levels between our centre forwards and their centre forward."

White was also not happy with a challenge from his counterpart, Bath player manager Gary Owers.

Owers smashed into Mark Badman and sent him flying to the ground. The referee did not give a foul and White and Owers squared up on the touchline.

"Gary Owers could not hold a candle to Badman he was world class out there.

"Owers poleaxed Mark and no decision was given."

The manager was still pleased with taking a point from Twerton Park and praised his players.

"We will move on and put it behind us. It is a good point earned. Mark Badman did fantastic and Lee Davidson had a great game."

Chippenham stay top of the league, four points ahead of Bedford, who have a game in hand.