GRAYS Athletic were left fuming after some questionable refereeing decisions saw them leave with nothing against Kingstonian.

Blues lost 2-1 but can consider them unfortunate to come away from their Ryman Premier League clash empty-handed, after a goal was belatedly ruled out for offside, with a seemingly harsh penalty awarded against them as well.

It was a low-key opening with both sides probing for an opening. Blues were looking a lot sharper with some neat interplay.

It was Blues who opened the scoring in the ninth minute following some good approach work. Player/ manager Jamie Stuart played a long ball forward which caught the home defence square. Etienne Kabobola latched onto the ball racing forward and fired past the advancing Rob Tolfrey in the home goal.

Kingstonian continued to probe down the flanks and in the 16th minute got back on level terms when Callum Thomas failed to claim a deep ball into the area, allowing Sam Page to head into an unguarded goal.

Not to be outdone, Blues continued to push forward. A weaving run from Stephane Ngamvoulou went unchecked and he curled the ball just wide of Tolfrey’s upright. Kingstonian did come close to grabbing a second but were thwarted by a great double save from Thomas, first blocking a Ryan Moss effort and then holding on to the rebound from Joe Turner.

Thomas was called into action again early in the second-half with another double save at the expense of a corner as the home side began to crank up the pressure.

Kingstonian dominated possession, winning a number of free-kicks and corners and putting the visitors’ goal under constant pressure but, unlike in previous games, Blues maintained their shape and keep their goal intact.

That was until the 70th minute when Kingstonian were awarded a debatable penalty. Captain Kwabene Osei was adjudged to have handled a Turner cross although it appeared to be more a case of ball to hand. Pelayo-Pico Gomez duly converted the spot kick.

Blues thought they had finally got the breakthrough after a patient build up when L’heureux Menga slotted the ball past Tolfrey and, despite the protests from the home side, the referee and his assistant signalled for a goal.

However, the home players continued to surround the officials and, after some discussion, the goal was ruled out for offside.

Incensed by the decision, Blues continued to pressurise the home goal and came so close to snatching a point when Menga won a header at the far post, knocking the ball down to Kababola. He prodded the ball forward but Tolfrey somehow got a foot to the ball deflecting for a corner.

And that was how it ended.