DAVE Ferris thought that a 3-0 scoreline flattered title-chasing Barnstaple Town as his Chippenham Park side were bested at Hardenhuish Park last weekend.

Park were unable to put the brakes on the Toolstation League First Division’s top-scorers but Ferris thought that his side were more than a match for Barnstaple, right up until a handful of controversial refereeing decisions proved decisive in the visitors’ victory.

Park were dismayed not to be awarded a foul for a challenge on stand-in keeper Nathan Pritchard in the build-up to Barnstaple’s opener and also pointed to an alleged misdemeanour moments before Dan Price’s second half sending off but manager Ferris was keen to focus on the positives from his team’s display against the title favourites.

“Barnstaple are a very, very good side and for an hour, we matched them and probably had the better chances,” said Ferris.

“But my players were becoming increasingly frustrated at what they perceived to be incorrect refereeing decisions and I’m not going to be controversial and say that they were but I’d say that my lads probably weren’t wrong.

“Nathan Pritchard had the ball in two hands and was challenged in mid-air – their lad’s then been able to head it in.

“Then, we thought there was a foul on George Nash but the play’s continued and Dan Price has been sent off for a reckless challenge.

“We kept three at the back, rather than going to four, because we wanted to get a goal but we’ve been undone twice.

“3-0 does flatter Barnstaple but best of luck for them in their title challenge. It’s better to concentrate on the positives because our performance level was very good.”

Park go looking to bounce back to winning ways when they travel to Oldland Abbotonians next weekend.