Dartford manager Alan Dowson says National League South referees have been awful this season after 2-1 home defeat by Chelmsford

Dartford manager Alan Dowson has blasted the standard of refereeing in National League South as “horrendous” this season.

The Darts were left bemused yet again on Tuesday night by the manor of striker Harvey Bradbury’s red card in the 2-1 home defeat to Chelmsford.

“They’re getting worse,” fumed Dowson. “The referees in the league are horrendous. Ever since they have this power now that you can’t surround them, they’re getting worse.

“I’ll say it on record, I think the referees have been awful in this league. They’ve cost us a few points, that’s for certain.”

It was the third controversial game in a row that has left Dowson frustrated with the officials. The manager himself saw red at Hemel Hempstead and Darts striker Alex Wall somehow collected a second yellow card against Weston last week when an opposition player dived to win a free-kick.

Bradbury had an ongoing battle with Chelmsford defender Luke Jenkins, which boiled over on the edge of the penalty area just before the hour mark when the ball was cleared to the halfway line.

However, it took the officials three minutes and a reaction that included the injured party having to be restrained by his own physio and goalkeeper, and a Chelmsford supporter running onto the pitch, before referee Nick Dunn showed the red card after consulting with both of his assistants, neither of whom flagged at the time.

“Nobody’s seen it, that’s what it is,” said Dowson. “The referee hasn’t seen Harvey do anything tonight, the referee says the linesman did and the linesman says he didn’t and Harvey gets sent off. So why did he get the red card?

“100 per cent it was the reaction of the players. It’s pathetic. Are they going to do anything about one of their supporters running onto the