Herne Bay boss James Collins says red card for midfielder Ethan Smith was wrong call in 2-0 home defeat against promotion-chasing Isthmian South East side Burgess Hill Town

Manager James Collins conceded Ethan Smith’s sending-off was a vital moment in Herne Bay’s home defeat against Burgess Hill on Saturday.

Bay’s four-game unbeaten Isthmian South East run, which included back-to-back away victories, ended as they lost 2-0 to the third-placed Hillians at Winch’s Field.

The match was goalless when midfielder Smith was controversially dismissed in the first half, challenging for a loose ball in the air.

Collins reflected: “It was an acceptable performance. I felt we gave it everything.

“The referee was so, so poor. To be fair, we have had some contentious decisions in our last few games.

“Croydon had their keeper [Amadou Tangara] sent off - which they successfully appealed - when we played them at home (in a 2-2 draw).

“This red card, which we’re appealing, is never a red card. It’s not the only decision he got wrong, either, but they kept the ball well and scored two goals at crucial times.

“The first was three minutes into first-half injury time and then we hit the post in the second half before they went straight down the other end and scored.

“The sending-off changed the game, but Burgess Hill are a good side and we gave a good account of ourselves.”

While 17th-placed Bay have appealed against Smith’s suspension, Collins isn’t confident it will be overturned.

“I’m not convinced it will be overturned because I don’t have any faith in that system,” he said.

“There’s a video of it online. I don’t think anyone in the ground thought it was a red card.

“Some have even said that they think it’s a foul the other way, which I don’t think it was.

“It’s just two players challenging for the ball in the air and one gets there before the other.

“Mind you, as much as I say the referee killed the game,