Last updated 11:25, Wednesday, 09 April 2008

REFEREE Paul Holleran apologised to Penrith's players after admitting he made a mistake to award a penalty against them during their 4-3 Ernest Armstrong Memorial Cup defeat to Sunderland Ryhope last night.

The Northumberland official immediately went into the home dressing room following the final whistle and apologised for the decision that turned the game on its head in the 52nd minute.

Town were 2-1 up and well in control when Holleran awarded the spot-kick against home defender David Lynn. He also booked him for arguing against the decision.

Blues boss Dave Heslop said: “The referee feels like he's doing us a favour coming in and putting his hands up but it changed the game. I feel robbed.

“We're very frustrated but it's the way things are going for us at the minute. We're not getting the rub of the green.”

Visiting striker Gary Shields put Ryhope ahead on 20 minutes converting into an almost empty net following a scrappy pinball-like scramble in the Penrith area. Tim Fletcher levelled by rising at the back post in the 29th minute and then three minutes later top-scorer Barry Irving headed Penrith in front following a brilliant cross by Matty Lea.

Shields hit his second to made it 2-2, following the ref's controverial decision, before Lea put Penrith ahead again on the hour mark.

His low drive from the edge of the area appeared to catch Ryhope keeper Craig Shields by surprise as it whistled past him and nestled into the bottom right corner of his net.

Ryhope ace Andy Jennings put his side back on terms for the second time in the 81st minute before Sammons left Penrith shellshocked by slamming the ball in on the rebound in the 89th.

PENRITH: Holland, Jones, Lynn (Paul 73), Pattinson, Robertson, Frampton (Townsley 90), Fletcher, Blaylock, Irving, Ferris (Wilson 79), Lea. Unused subs: Prokas.

STAR MAN: Matty Lea. The tricky whizz was on red hot form, scoring one and setting up another on a bitterly cold evening.

NEXT MATCH: Prudhoe Town, away, Saturday April 12, kick-off 3pm.