CONTROVERSIAL decisions contributed to a 3-1 reverse when Lads Club travelled to the Handrahan Sports Stadium to take on Wrens Nest in a West Midlands League Division One clash.

The city side thought they had taken the lead when a free-kick by Jordan Burke was headed in brilliantly at the far post by Danny Moon only for the ref to disallow the goal for an apparent push by Moon.

The visitors did, however, take the lead when a flowing move involving Josh Pugh, Liam Jones, Henry Hastings, Carlos Moriera and Gareth Bowley ended with James Fennessy's low cross being put into his own net by a Wrens Nest defender.

Lads Club continued to play their football which was very pleasing on the eye with Kalum Wildig pulling the strings in midfield.

Lads Club wasted chances to go in at half-time three or four goals up but were pegged back when, from a home corner, a Wrens Nest player handled the ball but the referee gave a penalty to Wrens.

Against the run of play at the start of the second period, a home forward dribbled into the area and toe poked the ball past Hastings and ran into the oncoming keeper Steve Bell.

A second penalty was awarded and the referee gave a penalty, as well as giving Bell a second yellow card.

The penalty was scored and the final, killer blow came when Hastings clearance fell straight to a Wrens forward whose shot was brilliantly saved by replacement goalkeeper Ashley Jones only for the ball to fall to an unmarked forward who finished.

"The result was hard to take but the performance was superb," said Lads Club assistant manager Richie Jones.

"Our only negative was we really should have blown Wrens away before all the controversy over the first penalty."