Maamria ‘disgusted’ by referee’s performance as late penalty denies Oldham win

Dino Maamria was “disgusted” by the performance of referee Peter Wright after Oldham were denied victory at Macclesfield by a last-minute penalty.

The official appeared to cave under protests from Macclesfield players in the 90th minute for a David Wheater handball, which eventually prompted a penalty award and a red card for the defender.

And the Latics boss was in no mood to pull his punches after their 1-1 draw.

“I’m absolutely disgusted with the referee’s performance,” said Maamria. “I feel like we’ve been robbed of two points.

“In the second half we were tremendous and to be robbed of those two points is really hard to take.

“He apologised to me after the game but apologies are no good to me – do your job properly.

“These are serious errors. The referee waved no penalty then Macclesfield gang up on him, five or six of them, and he changes his mind and gives the penalty. I don’t understand that.

“I’m not sure what the head of referees will do about it; we can’t do anything about it. We’ve just lost two points. It’s absolutely disgusting.

“I try to keep my players away from referees but that seems to work because Macclesfield did that and he’s given a penalty and a red card for a situation he’s not seen.”

An even game looked like ending goalless before Oldham’s Jonny Smith hit the opening goal in the 85th minute.

But in a scramble in the opposite box, the referee took an agonising amount of time to finally award the spot-kick, and dismiss Wheater.

And the Silkmen’s interim boss, Danny Whitaker, was understandably happy with the decision, which allowed Joe Ironside to convert and snatch a point.

“My initial thought was it was a clear handball and he was right to give it and send their lad off,” he said.

“I’d like to see it again to make sure but I’m pretty certain the ref got it right, and the lads deserved that, they worked tirelessly all through the game. We went a goal behind and I told them to stay on the front foot, attack them – we had nothing to lose.

“I was nervous when Joe stepped up but I’m delighted he tucked it away, he worked his socks off and deserved it.

“All the lads stuck to the job in hand and we didn’t lose, which is the main thing.

“You always like to test the keeper more, you want more of an end product but they were testing conditions, it was difficult out there.”