Hedderman fuming as Shipston are 'cheated'

SHIPSTON Excelsior boss Steve Hedderman questioned referee Mark Beveley’s integrity following his team’s controversial 3-2 defeat to Bartestree last Saturday.

Hedderman was left seething in a game where he felt three Bartestree players should have been sent off.

Shipston dominated the opening exchanges and looked on course for victory when they went a goal ahead through James Drinkwater, but a Bartestree penalty on the stroke of half-time saw them go in level.

Joe Godson restored Shipston’s lead with a bullet header before two goals in the last 15 minutes saw Bartestree take all three points.

Shipston ended the game with ten men when Nick Shurmer was sent off five minutes from time.

The defeat left Hedderman boiling with rage, to the point where he said he considered his position as manager.

“I was absolutely fuming,” said the Shipston boss.

“I have never, ever felt so cheated and exasperated by the referee and his hapless buffoon of a linesman (Andrew Pearson), who conspired to cheat against my players.

“I am disgusted by the way they performed and I am questioning their integrity. I had absolutely no problem with the other linesman (David Hancock).

“I vented so much hatred because I was devastated with how we’d been cheated.

“Officials are going to get things wrong, I accept that, but you can’t get that many things wrong. Three of their players should have been sent off.

“I was really close to quitting as that wasn’t football, it was shocking.

“I hold my hands up — I lost my rag and I should know better, but it left a very sour taste.”