ANDY Preece accused Gary Mills' Alfreton Town side of poor sportsmanship after the visitors scored a highly controversial penalty in Saturday's 2-2 draw at St George's Lane.

The Derbyshire side came under fire for netting a 16th minute spot-kick, given against Adam Burley when the Worcester City full-back caught the ball inside the box, unwittingly believing that Alfreton player-manager Mills was injured with a head blow.

The goal incensed Worcester's players, who deemed Town's decision to convert the penalty as unsporting behaviour, and Preece's assistant Andy Morrison was sent to the stands for venting his fury at Mills.

It is not the first time this season that Mills, a former European Cup winner with Nottingham Forest, has courted criticism.

In January, Alfreton scored a late equaliser at Northwich Victoria having kept possession from a throw-in, conceded by Vics goalkeeper Kris Rogers to allow injured Mark Turner to receive treatment. Viewed as the guilty man by Vics' boss Steve Burr, Mills took the throw-in and then supplied the leveller.

Preece insists the penalty was the result of an innocent mistake by Burley and, had the incident occurred at the other end, admits he would have instructed his penalty-taker to roll the ball back to the opposition.

"The lad went down, getting a whack on the head and one of their players said 'catch it'," said Preece. "Adam caught the ball thinking the referee is going to blow up for their lad going down.

"There was nobody around Adam -- it was a totally innocent thing he did, for the protection of one of their players.

"Something happened at Northwich, so Alfreton already put their colours to the mast. I did not expect them to try anything other than score a goal. We should have known better. Obviously, they are in a position where they are struggling and felt they would rather score."

Preece added: "If it happened to us, I'd hope to see common sense. I would have told our penalty-taker to roll it back, but until you are in that situation, it's hard to say what you would do."

Teenager Troy Wood and Preece scored for City in an error-ridden game.

n Match report -- Page 26.