Steve Watt was highly critical of referee Steven Hughes after Monday's 1-1 draw with Bostik Premier play-off rivals Folkestone Invicta.

The Gate boss felt his side had three strong penalty appeals turned down, including one in the game's dying throes when young substitute Sid Sollis appeared to be caught as he bore down on goal.

Watt was also disappointed with the red card shown to defender Tom Wynter, who, he claimed, had little or no chance of getting his hand out of the way of Kieron McCann's goalbound effort.

Wynter's handball led to the 79th minute penalty converted by Invicta's Ade Yusuff to cancel out Frannie Collin's spectacular volley at the other end 13 minutes earlier. Margate remain fifth and very much still in the promotion mix, but Watt believed his side deserved better at the Fullicks Stadium.

He said: "I feel sorry for the players and the supporters. We should be here celebrating a good three points, the reason we're not is because of the man in the middle.

"I'm disappointed because I felt the ref cost us. I've not been critical of referees this season, I've tried not to be, but when there are big, big decisions like that in a game I think he bottled it.

"They (Invicta) had a handball in the first half , the four (Matty Newman), admits to handballing it and it should have been a penalty but he didn't give it.

"Jordan Chiedozie's been booked (for simulation) but he's been kicked twice, and young Sid Sollis he was in and he goes down – so for me we've had three pretty obvious penalty claims, you can understand maybe not getting one but three?

"In a game like this the top referees should ref so, at our level the best ref available should ref these games because of what's riding on it and I don't think he was good enough.

"You try to speak to him and you just get 'Shut up, get away from me' and it's quite disrespectful, but you've got to walk away because if you don't you get yourself into trouble."

Watt was far happier with his team's display and especially with the way they tried to take the game to Invicta, who could have gone top had they won.

He added: "I can't remember Lenny (keeper Lenny Pidgeley) making a save. We did our homework, I came and watched them last Tuesday (when Invicta beat Lowestoft 2-1). I know the way they play and I thought I'd probably go at them a little bit at their own game.

"We were offensive because I know if you sit off a team like Folkestone with the bodies they put at you they cause you problems so you've got to ask them questions at the other end.

"I thought we did that and I thought we were the better side. I think we should have been two, 3-0 up at half-time but things just aren't falling our way at the moment. Today it should have been three points, yes we should have taken our chances but the man in the middle I think if he's stronger and gets the big decisions right we win."