Joint Barrow manager Darren Sheridan believes Saturday's result was affected by referee Amy Rayner but said there are many positives his side can take from the performance.

Neither manager was completely happy with Ms Rayner's performance; U's boss Gary Brabin thought there was a clear foul in the build-up to Barrow's equaliser, while Sheridan thought Phil Bolland should have been sent off rather than yellow-carded for a foul in the 59th minute and should have received a second yellow for a foul ten minutes later.

"There were a few decisions I thought were wrong," he complained. "I'm not saying the she shouldn't be refereeing, but if there is a tackle made with the intent to hurt somebody as there was on Carlos Logan when a straight leg went in and the lad stamps on him it should result in a straight red.

"She's given him a yellow card and the game goes on and the same lad pulls Nick (Rogan) back when he was clear through on goal. He's grabbed him round the neck and all she's done is given a normal free kick - no yellow card which would have seen him sent off, which would have changed the game.

"But I'm not looking for excuses because it was a very scrappy game," he added. "We got back in the game after conceding the first goal, which I thought was a bit scrappy, and I thought our equaliser was going to give us a lift but then they got what proved to be the winner."

Of the winning goal, which was a free kick struck from 40 yards by Wayne Hatswell and fumbled into his own net by goalkeeper Tim Deacy, Sheridan commented, "Tim holds his hands up for that but you would back him to save them all day long.

"We still had a couple of chances in the second half to get a point but didn't create enough in the second period. They had a couple of chances towards the end and Tim Deacy showed what he can do with the saves he made. Tim's still gutted in the dressing room over their second goal but that's what happens with goalkeepers - their mistakes are always highlighted.

"He saved us in a lot of games last season so I've told him to keep his head up."

Reviewing the opening three games, which leave Cambridge United at the top with the only 100% record in the league and Barrow well-placed in seventh, Sheridan concluded, "We've played three good sides so far this season and I thought we'd get something out of Cambridge the way we have been playing.

"Cambridge are a strong outfit and are well organised and they will be there or thereabouts at the end of the season. We've come here and we've done all right, so although the defeat is disappointing there are many positives we can take into the next game. We'll be OK if if the players show the commitment and desire that they've shown."

Interview by David Gray

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