SARUM Seniors went crashing out of the Wiltshire League’s Fountain Junior Cup semi-final following a 2-0 defeat to Intel FC.

A controversial penalty gave Intel the upper hand in a match played in awful conditions, with a second coming soon after to complete a miserable afternoon for Sarum.

And to make matters worse, young Adam Cain was taken to hospital with a nasty facial injury which he picked up after being pushed into the pitch barriers and Archie Lovegrove was lucky not to pick up a serious injury after a dreadful challenge.

Manager Dave Rawkins said: “I’m gutted for the young lads.”

“We had a plan for the conditions, which the players executed superbly as we looked set to go and win the game.

“I very rarely criticise referees but it was one of the worst performances I have seen for a while.

“He got some big decisions wrong and lost all control of the game, which ended up with my young lads picking up some nasty injuries that could have been avoided with a stronger, more experienced official.

What makes it worse is that this was a semi-final and has cost the lads a chance of their first senior medal.”