Bradford Park Avenue boss John Deacey was left fuming by a ‘disgraceful’ decision that he felt marred his club’s last game of the season.

Skipper Nathan Hotte was sent off in the home clash with Histon following a contentious decision by referee Tim Wood.

The official brandished a red card at the midfielder 12 minutes from time, even though he had his back to the player.

Histon committed a foul when Avenue were on the attack. The referee blew but the home team felt the advantage rule should have been applied. The players were visibly disappointed by the decision and Hotte scooped the ball up and sent it in the general direction of where the free-kick was to be taken, inadvertently hitting the referee on his back.

Deacey said: “It was a stupid, stupid decision, absolutely disgraceful.

“The ball was just lobbed back to where the ref was standing so that the free-kick could be taken and there was no suggestion that the player had deliberately done it. I didn’t expect a red card and thought the ref might have been helped out by the assistant referee who was just a few yards away.

“But we have since got a copy of the report and the liner (assistant referee) had stated that he had seen the incident and in his opinion Hotte had directed the ball at the ref.

"I couldn’t believe that part of it, especially after seeing a kid in the dressing room close to tears because he felt it was an injustice and thinking about his suspension.”

Hotte will be sidelined by a three-match ban for the straight red, which comes under violent conduct, at the start of next season.

However, the player did not escape criticism from his boss for his general demeanour towards match officials.

“I did think the red card was really harsh but Nathan doesn’t do himself any favours at all. He is always in the referee’s ear and he was throughout that game so when the ref gets his chance he is going to get his own back.

“Nathan does it all the time and while it shows passion and a desire to win it means you can easily get on the wrong side of them.

“It’s all about psychology but Nathan just won’t learn.”