MANAGER Carl Heeley admits Worcester City were the architects of their own downfall against Barrow but reckons referee Robert Massey-Ellis was wrong not to send off Andy Burns.

The City boss was critical of his side’s defending for both goals at Aggborough which saw them lose on home soil for the second time in four days.

However, Burns was only shown a yellow card for bringing down Sean Geddes for Worcester’s first-half penalty and, although keeper Aaran Taylor denied the striker, Heeley felt the Barrow full-back should have seen red.

He said: “Barrow have come and done a job but from our point of view I’m really disappointed in the two goals and there was a game-changing minute.

“The rule states denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity and he was eight yards from goal just about to pull the trigger and the lad pulled him down. The referee agreed with that and gave a penalty and booked him.

“I’m going to compare that to Aaron Brown (against Guiseley). He pulled a lad down 35 yards from goal and that was deemed a clear goal-scoring opportunity and this was 27 yards further up the pitch.

“I think the referee has got it wrong but that’s my opinion.”

Heeley added: “The first goal was a good ball on this surface, Anthony Wilson rolled Rob Elvins and tucked it away so that was disappointing.

“For the second, we were pushing on at the end and I felt it was another ball into our box that we should have dealt with.

“But they are the fine margins you work with and Barrow have done that better than us and more often than us, hence they’re going for the championship.”

On Geddes’ penalty miss, the Blue and Whites manager said: “Everybody can miss a penalty and he’s missed one but that goes with the territory of taking them.”