‘We don’t understand the rules any more’ confesses Doswell after Hawks’ FA Trophy exit against Notts County

The boss was left frustrated by referee Sunny Gill’s decision to send off debutant Nico Jones with 20 minutes of Saturday’s fifth round tie against Notts County remaining.

Hawks were looking fairly comfortable at 2-1 up and heading for a shock victory and a place in the quarter finals for only the fourth time in their history.

But Gill decided to award a penalty for Jones’ tug of Tyreace Palmer’s shirt, even though the County sub had managed to get his head on the end of a Ruben Rodrigues free-kick.

Compounding Hawks’ agony, Jones - already booked for a foul in the first half - was dismissed.

‘He (Jones) got sent off for making no attempt (to play the ball) but the guy got a free header … I don’t know how that works,’ said a puzzled Doswell.

‘The guy’s had a free header and he’s missed and at that point the tug on the shirt had already gone, he’s set himself to head it and he’s headed it wide.

‘It’s got to the point with FIFA that none of us know the rules any more, certainly on offside and handball, you can see that over the last two weeks in the Premier League.

‘We’re no different, we don’t really understand the rules any more.’

Doswell was also annoyed Gill missed a clear foul on Tommy Wright in the closing stages of the 2-2 draw with Notts progressing via the lottery of penalties.

‘We had a nailed on penalty on Tommy, absolutely nailed on,’ he remarked.

‘Anywhere else on the pitch and that would have been given as a foul, his hands were all around Tommy’s shirt.

‘To not see that one given, then you see their soft one given … it hurts to be honest.’

Doswell was delighted with the performance against National League opposition.

‘I’m extremely proud of the players. To go out on penalties is a bitter blow,’ he said.

‘We should be given a lot of plaudits for that performance.

‘We played for 25 minutes with 10 men against a good side and they didn’t create many chances.

‘Our good players showed up today, that hasn’t been the case for some of the season. Billy Clifford ran the show, which is why we signed him.

I wanted to judge ourselves against good National League opposition and we came through with flying colours today. If it was a home point against Notts County you’d take it, and that’s really what it was.

‘We looked a good side and we have to replicate that form in the Conference South. If we do, the wins will come.

‘We’re in a good place at the moment.’