Baldock Town manager David McAdam was pleased with the three points against Colney Heath but was not happy that a big lead was almost wiped out.

The Reds were already 2-0 upthrough an own goal and Owen Robertson when Kit Brown grabbed a third four minutes into the second half at the Recreation Ground.

But then two contested decisions, one a free-kick and the second a penalty, allowed the Magpies to claw their way back to within one goal and 15 minutes to play

A third contentious decision came three minutes later, a second yellow for Mamadou Diallo meaning the Reds had to hang on to the 3-2 win with 10 men.

It left the boss with a mixture of emotions at the final whistle.

He said: "It's a performance that I felt deserved the three points.

"But it just goes to show how quickly things can change in football when things go against you. 

"You know, we were 3-0 up and cruising and then all of a sudden, they’ve stepped up a gear. 

"They got a free-kick that we didn't feel was a free-kick but the lad put it away and what a free-kick. 

"And then you think OK, just regroup and settle. 

"But then it’s a penalty, and there's a few people here that have said it was never a pen, but he’s given it. 

"It was another that was executed well and then we're backs against the wall. 

"But what we have got now is a determination within the group, a few more senior heads that can calm you down. 

"We had Jack Morrell come in [from Hitchin] and he's just in for minutes but he just oozed class.

"I’m gutted about the sending off because the lad was coming off and we had the sub ready but they didn't let us do it."

It led to a grumble about the official with the Baldock boss saying respecting the decision is one thing, agreeing with it is another.

McAdam said: "He said come and talk to me 10 minutes after the game. 

"For me that's never going to change anything. Just tell me on the pitch and I'm happy. 

"And I respect their decisions but when one pair of eyes sees [a decision] one way and 80 other pairs see something completely different, who’s in the wrong?"

There was plenty of positives though as the Reds returned to action after a three-week break, picking up their first victory in four games and shooting them up to 12th in the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division.

McAdam said: "We got fortunate, obviously, with the first goal but we don't normally get that bit of luck.

"But we built from it, got a great second goal, and after half-time I just wanted to keep going, stay on the front foot. 

 

"The third was another good goal and then you think we can start playing. 

"And then it went kamikaze.  

"We had a friendly last week against Amersham which was good minutes for the boys. 

"That’s what the friendlies are all about. I don't really care about results, just get minutes in the legs. 

"We had a few struggling towards the end and I've apologised to the subs that didn't get on. 

"I'm not about dragging people somewhere and not playing them but sometimes it happens. 

"But we’ve got a good group with great morale and now we look to build a platform and move forward."