CHRISTCHURCH are desperately seeking a huge slice of luck after another defeat that simply was not a justified scoreline, going down 2-1 at home to unbeaten Thatcham Town.

Priory should have been the first side to turn the Berkshire outfit over this season, having enjoyed the lions share of possession and having produced the better chances in front of goal.

The writing was on the wall though when Tom Hughes was sent off controversially with 15 minutes left.

Pete Moore's side were leading at the time by a goal to nil before the drama unfolded.

Hughes seemed to just collide with Thatcham's lively Marc Green before Green shot wide.

To the amazement of the majority of people at Hurn Bridge, the assistant referee, who was standing much further away from the incident than the referee himself, called the referee over and for some reason Hughes was then shown a straight red card.

To make matters worse for the hosts, the goal kick was then switched to a free kick to Thatcham on the edge of the box.

As the kick was taken Neil Massie charged the ball down.

The referee again was not happy with the home side and ordered the kick to be taken again, booking Massie in the process just for good measure.

From the retaken free kick, Adam Campion struck an excellent shot into the far corner of Max Frampton's goal to level the scores at 1-1.

The whole episode was a little too much to take for Priory boss Pete Moore, who was fuming with the officials.

"It was the most unbelievable display from a referee and a particular linesman I've ever seen," spat Moore.

"For officials to actually affect the outcome of the game like they did is totally unacceptable.

"I know referees are low on the ground at them moment and there's not enough of them but they've got to be made accountable.

"We certainly have to be, if we say something out of line we're pulled up for it and what went on in this match was absolutely farcical.

He added: "To be fair it wasn't just us, the Thatcham people were pulling their hair out as well at times.

"An official watching the game said to me after the match 'it was because you got on the linesman's back early doors, he did what he did'. If that was the case then that's just blatant cheating.

More controversy was to occur with just four minutes left when Marc Rees suddenly found himself through on goal, despite the vociferous protests of offside from the home contingent and promptly slotted the ball past Frampton for a winner that had never looked on the cards.

Earlier in the match, Richard Bentley had taken advantage of pressure on the visitors' goal when he put Priory one up with a shot from 12 yards.

Scott Joyce, who is rapidly getting back to match fitness following a lengthy injury lay-off, almost made it 2-0 two minutes later but, his effort was saved by Paul Strudley in the Thatcham goal.

Joyce saw another header just miss the target and then James Bailey-Pearce produced an excellent cross for Bentley, who in turn conjured up a superb diving head which stopped by a fine save from Strudley.

Chances became less frequent in the second period and three much-needed points for Priory almost looked in the bag before the late controversy.

Christchurch: Frampton, Wyatt, Whitley, Massie, Hughes, Bailey-Pearce, Lawrence (Knighton 77), Griffiths, Bentley, Joyce (Laronde 85), Rideout. Unused sub: Stone.