Penistone Church were left frustrated with the officials after they lost 1-0 at Eccleshill United in the NCEL Premier.

Tom Brennan scored an own goal midway through the second half.

They are third with 34 points from 20 games, five points off top and four clear in the top five. They are now due to host second-placed Golcar United on Saturday.

Co-manager Steve Lenthall said: “We defended really well in the first half. The slope is hard to defend when they’re putting balls on you.

“We said that 0-0 was a positive scoreline at half-time and, in the second half, we created chances to win two or three games but they put bodies on the line, they had blocks on the line and the ‘keeper has pulled two or three great saves off. We’ve had a penalty denied after a foul on Jordan Coduri, we’ve also been denied a goal where apparently the ball has gone over the line, even their players are saying it had gone over.

“Then there was a foul on Danny Howes, everybody else thought it was a foul but the ref waved play on and we got sucker punched from it. Credit their lad who put the ball in, Tom Brennan had to go for it, it went in off him and we found ourselves 1-0 down.

“Again we were left questioning the officials. I don’t think that he’s had a great game, he has to review it and look to improve. All in all, I was pleased with our performance but disappointed with the result.”