A positive opening spell in Tuesday’s encounter with Burgess Hill Town saw the Darts go 2-0 up – with the chance of a third goal after the ref pointed to the penalty spot, late on in the first half.

However, come the end of the match, the points were shared, with the opposition securing a 3-3 draw in the final moments.

For Ady Pennock, it was an evening of frustration and the manager held no punches in his assessment of the game.

He said: “I’m so frustrated. It’s the most frustrated I’ve been since I came here. We played well in the first half, but didn’t come out playing the way we can in the second.

“We were 2-1 up when they went down to 10 men and I wanted us to be braver on the ball. We should have kept the ball better and use the extra man like we did on Saturday, but we sat back and gave the ball away too many times.

“I’m so frustrated with how we conceded three goals from set pieces. They had four chances all match and scored three goals that were easily avoidable. We spend so long working on these things in training, but we didn’t set-up well for them and they were bad goals to concede.”

The team went into an early lead through Olly Box’s low drive in the third minute. Callum Jones scored the second on 17 minutes and the chances kept coming.

When a penalty was awarded late on in the half, it seemed as though it would seal the three points. However, Dsane’s penalty was saved and he failed to convert the rebound.

Ady said: “We played some nice football and went 2-0 up, but then we took our foot off the gas. They had some possession but weren’t opening us up.

“I thought we started well, but didn’t put our foot on the ball and keep it in the second half.

“It’s a game we should have won. It’s like a loss. We’ve got to learn to keep the ball better and learn from the mistakes quickly.”

The game went from 2-0 to 2-2, before the Darts scored through Sam Odaudu late on. While it looked as though they’d done enough to win, the visitors then scored a late equaliser.

With both teams awarded red cards and Olly Box the latest to be given his orders to leave the field, the number of cards given in matches have become a common talking point.

Ady continued: “We aren’t telling the players to get sent off. I think the referees are spoiling a lot of the matches this season. That wasn’t a dirty game and we aren’t a dirty team, but there were so many yellows and two reds and it was so tough for both managers and sets of players. Take away the reds, and there were so many decisions made that left you questioning what was happening. There was an instance where it was an obvious goal kick as it came off Eddie’s boot and he gave us a corner. This isn’t me feel aggrieved, I’m pointing out it was the same for both teams.

“We seem to have assessors at so many of our games and the referees are giving yellows out for nothing and it’s frustrating to watch.

“We haven’t changed in our play or how we are acting since last year, but now have all these reds. Olly got fouled for his second yellow and he falls on the ball and gets a yellow for it. I’m not sure what he was meant to do. They have to use some common sense here, they are playing with people’s livelihoods.”

Ady now prepares for a cup match this weekend with a training session on Thursday.

He added: “For now, we turn our attention to the cup.

“I want the lads to be braver on the ball. Being brave is not always a hard tackle or a 50/50 header. It’s about wanting to get on the ball all over the pitch. Showing and creating space for your teammates.

“That’s what we didn’t do in the second half, especially when they were down to 10 men.

“Overall, they scored from three set pieces, not from open play. Now, that’s frustrating.

“We’ll regroup, work on some of the things we need to in training and go again.”