BRYAN HUGHES felt Wrexham had a perfectly good goal disallowed as their bid for promotion came to an end.
The Reds were beaten 1-0 by Eastleigh in their National League play-off eliminator at The Racecourse.
Spitfires captain Danny Hollands scored a stunning goal in extra time to secure victory for the visitors but Hughes insists Wrexham’s disallowed second half goal should have stood.
Kieran Kennedy put the loose ball home following a corner but Eastleigh goalkeeper Luke Southwood was adjudged to have been fouled and the goal was ruled out by referee Martin Woods.
“It is tough to take, it wasn’t nice losing like that,” said a gutted Hughes.
“I don’t think he’ll hit a better strike the lad who scored the winner but the effort and the commitment that the players showed right the way through.
“We hit the crossbar a couple of times and we had a goal disallowed which was never a foul - I have watched it back.
That was a tough one to take last night.. the lads couldn’t have given anymore than what we did, but ultimately we came up short. Would like to thank all those that stuck by us last night and throughout the season for your support.
— Shaun Pearson (@shaunpearson5) May 3, 2019
“You talk about fine margins all the way through the season and it has happened again tonight.
“We just haven’t had the luck this year.”
Hughes saw the incident back and says Wrexham should have been awarded the goal when Kennedy scored during a period of Reds pressure.
“It was definitely a goal,” added Hughes.
“I would even go as far and say there was no contact, minimal at best. The goalkeeper has dropped it.
“That is 10 minutes into the second half and we were totally dominant at that stage, and we were on top for the rest of the second half.
“But decisions change games and we didn’t get that one.
“We had chances, a couple of headers, couple of crossbars and penalty appeals - the list is endless.”
Delighted Eastleigh boss Ben Strevens said: “It was a brilliant win and great goal from our captain, whose been an unsung hero for us this season.
“We knew it was going to be tough and they put us under a lot of pressure but we did it.
“It’s always a dream to play at Wembley. I never played there as a player and we’re one game away now.
“We’ve gone under the radar this season but no we’re prepared for another long journey but I know my lads have still got a lot in them.”
Eastleigh will go to Salford City on Sunday and their boss Graham Alexander was an interested spectator in the stand last night.
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