ARDS manager Niall Currie blasted referee Lee Tavinder for failing to award his side a spot-kick in their 1-0 defeat at the hands of Glenavon on Saturday.
With the scores poised at 0-0, Joe McKinney’s shot towards goal was blocked inside the area by Kyle Neill. With the controversial moment coming just four minutes before Greg Moorhouse scored in the 63rd-minute winner, Currie believed it was turning point in the game.
“It’s a penalty,” insisted Currie.
“There’s no arguments about it. Everybody in the ground can see it. You even see Glenavon’s bench going like mice, because they know it’s a penalty.
“Lee Tavinder, I just don’t know. They also got their goal from a blatant handball from Bradley in the box. They rebuild it again and score their goal from it while we’re sitting with decisions like that.
“I’ve said to Lee Tavinder that I’m expecting a phone call. If I’m wrong, I’ll ring him and apologise, but he can’t get that one wrong. Everybody in the ground can see it.
“The players gave every drop but decisions like that – they’re the ones that hurt at the end of the season and suck the life out of players. All players want is referees to be consistent.”
Glenavon’s assistant manager Paul Millar couldn’t understand what all the fuss was about.
“I didn’t even know there was any controversy until we walked off the pitch and heard some of the Ards fans complaining,” said ‘Windy’
“Kyle made a superb block. He blocked it from about a yard out, so even if it did hit his hands, I don’t think you could give it as a penalty because there was no way it was deliberate.”
It wasn’t the only notable penalty incident in the game. In the 46th minute Glenavon were awarded a spot-kick when Stuart McMullan fouled Eoin Bradley inside the area.
After a string of spot-kick misses, Glenavon boss Gary Hamilton handed penalty duties to goalkeeper Jonny Tuffey. However, Tuffey’s effort was spectacularly saved by his opposite number Aaron Hogg.
“If Greg doesn’t toe-poke that in, I’m probably the villain, but he got me off the hook,” admitted Tuffey.
“Gary Hamilton just said before the game that if we got a penalty, I would hit it.
“I actually struck the ball well and Hoggy made a great save rather than it being a bad miss. I think Aaron deserves credit for the save.
“The bigger picture was the three points. It was a professional team performance.”
The Lurgan Blues grabbed the winner in the 63rd minute. A low Rhys Marshall show was parried by Hogg, into the path of Greg Moorhouse. The striker didn’t miss from close range.
Ards were unable to find an equaliser, even after Glenavon’s Joel Cooper was sent off for a second booking in the 88th minute.
Gary Hamilton’s outft are now five points clear of Ards in sixth place.