Northwich Victoria manager Dino Maamria admitted to being unpleasantly surprised by his side's performance in their 1-0 defeat to Cambridge United on Saturday, and called for consistency in refereeing decisions.

"I was surprised by how we played today because I haven't seen this kind of performance in pre-season, and I wish they had done it 2-3 weeks ago because we would have had the chance to put things right before today," grumbled the Vics manager.

"But friendlies are a totally different kind of game and there was an element of nerves to be taken into consideration out there. Some of the players looked edgy but that's the first game out of the way and we can put things right for the coming 45."

Maamria was especially disappointed with the marking leading up to United's goal - scored by debutant Felino Jardin after a good run and cross by fellow debutant Andy Parkinson - but he also pointed to the greater experience in the United side.

"Although the goal was well taken, the ball should have never reached the scorer," he stated. "There was a chance to stop the move and the marking on the edge of the area should have been better. I thought we had the better chances and could have been two goals up before it went in.

"Cambridge were a difficult prospect for us because of the experience they have down the spine of the team. Hatswell and Bolland know this league very well, Paul Carden in midfield can, if you let him, control how the game flows and he did that today, and Lee McEvilly upfront will cause problems to any side he plays. I wish I could have that level of experience in my team.

"That was the difference - those players did a very professional job on us and controlled the game like I want my players to; slowing things down and breaking up the flow of the game when needed. That's the mark of a good side and one that, like last year, can mount a challenge.

Moving on to the officiating, Maamria added, "I was disappointed that the referee didn't take action and issue a yellow card against Paul Carden for the foul he committed late on. Two of our players were cautioned for similar incidents on the far side of the pitch and I felt he was near enough to see the similarities in Carden's challenge.

"Also Lee McEvilly's challenge on Scott Tynan - if you saw the Barrow-Oxford game on TV you would have seen a similar challenge that resulted in a red card for the Oxford player. That changed the course of that game and I think if the referee had taken similar action then the result of this game would have been different.

"Now, I don't want to see people sent off but all we ask of referees is a bit of consistency," he concluded.

Interview by David Gray

The U's are next in action at home to Kidderminster Harriers on Tuesday (7.45pm) and again at home to Barrow on Saturday 16th (3pm).

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