FLINT Town United manager Niall McGuinness blasted officials after his side were beaten 2-1 at home by Bala Town.

The Silkmen fell to a sixth-straight JD Cymru Premier defeat in their final game before the lockdown measures in Wales postponed their fixtures for the next fortnight, leaving them second from bottom in the standings with two wins from their first nine contests.

The former Rhyl boss was less than impressed with the officiating during he midweek outing at the Essity Stadium which McGuinness felt cost his team at least a point against the perennial Europa League qualifiers.

Alex Jones netted his first goal for the club since joining from Prestatyn Town to break the deadlock, before prolific striker Chris Venables heading a contentious leveller that was adjudged to cross the line.

Speaking to the Leader, McGuinness said: “You can’t legislate for two huge decisions going against you.

“It’s not gone in but the goal has changed the direction of the game and when the referee gets a chance to even things out when we should have had a stonewall penalty, he doesn’t give it.

“Our lad’s had his shirt took off his back and then he’s been pushed in the back and still he doesn’t give it. Hopefully the officials will start giving some decisions our way when football resumes again next month.

“We pick ourselves up, regroup in the break and start afresh. We’ve been talking about taking our chances and getting ahead in games. We’ve done that and then we’ve had it all taken away.

“We played with a desire and deserved something from the game and we will take plenty of positives because we’ve done well against a team who have just come out of Europe and have top players turning out for them.”

The game’s deciding moment came on 51 minutes when Steve Leslie gave the Lakesiders’ an early second half advantage, and despite United’s best efforts they were unable to find a leveller and fell to their seventh loss since being granted promotion.