Saltash United 2, Bodmin Town 3

Bodmin closed the gap on Carlsberg South West Peninsula League leaders Launceston to two points on Saturday with a hard-earned victory over Saltash in a controversial premier division game at Kimberley Stadium.

Centre of attention was Plymouth referee Lee Roberts, whose decisions baffled and angered players and officials from both teams.

The drama started in the 19th minute when the official awarded a free kick against Bodmin skipper Steve Simmonds for a foul on Luke Doddridge on the edge of the penalty area, even though the Saltash player seemed to throw himself over Simmonds' leg.

Simmonds was still speaking to the referee about the incident when Darren Hicks took a quick free kick and his effort caught Bodmin goalkeeper Ryan Draper off guard as the shot hit a post and went in.

That sparked vehement protests from Bodmin, including manager Darren Gilbert, who was ordered to the stand for abuse of the referee.

Four minutes later Doddridge went down in the penalty area as he tried to get past Huw Morgan but with everybody expecting the referee to point to the spot, he booked the Saltash winger for diving.

Bodmin responded with an excellent chance for Sam Matthews after 27 minutes, which brought the best out of Saltash keeper Ben Elphick, but three minutes later they were level as Steve Colwell's chip over Elphick was over the line before a Saltash defender's attempt to clear.

There was another flashpoint four minutes from the end of the first half when Saltash's Gavin Coulton went in with a two footed challenge on Colwell which left the Bodmin midfield man requiring several minutes of treatment before he could continue.

It looked a red card offence but Mr Roberts decided a yellow was sufficient punishment, and he was jeered off at the end of the first half.

Bodmin stepped up the pressure in the opening stages of the second half with Matthews and Olly Brokenshire being denied by the legs of keeper Elphick before the visitors finally went ahead in the 59th minute with Matthews forcing the ball over the line after Saltash failed to clear a Brokenshire corner.

Six minutes later, though, Saltash made it 2-2 from a disputed corner. One of the referee's assistants, from about 20 yards on from the corner flag, adjudged that the ball had gone over the line when it had clearly been kept in play, and from the resulting corner, Coulton forced the ball over the line after Bodmin keeper Draper had misjudged the cross.

Bodmin appeared to have restored the lead in the 72nd minute when another Brokenshire corner caused havoc in the Saltash six yard box and Matthews' shot appeared to be well over the line before the ball was scrambled away, but the referee waved play on.

With the outcome of the match hanging in the balance, Doddridge had a great opportunity to put Saltash into a 3-2 lead in the 80th minute after an excellent run along the right wing, but his low shot whizzed across the face of goal.

And the Ashes were made to pay two minutes later when Bodmin scored the winner. Again a Brokenshire corner caused panic in the six yard box, Danny O'Hagan got up to head towards goal and Adam Carter responded quickest to force the ball over the line.

Saltash felt goalkeeper Elphick had been fouled twice in the melee, but the referee waved away their protests.

Full report and reactions in Wednesday's Cornish Guardian.