Sutton United boss Paul Doswell could not hide his frustration after watching his side knocked out of the FA Trophy at Hemel Hempstead.

United were reduced to 10 men in the first half when Bedsente Gomis was sent off, but they held out until the dying moments before a dubious penalty gave the hosts passage into the second round.

Doswell pointed the finger at the referee, claiming his side did not get the rub of the green when it came to game-changing decisions.

It means United only shot at silverware, aside from the Surrey County Cup, relies on them climbing the Conference South table having been eliminated from both the FA Cup and the FA Trophy.

Doswell told SUFCTV: “There were a lot contentious issues most the afternoon and they have affected the game in many ways.

“Up to the penalty, our 10 men had done fantastically well, they had restricted Hemel to no shots in the second half.

“I am very proud of the players and their performance, but very disappointed to be out of the competition.

“There is no doubt in my mind that we were the victim of two or three tackles before Glen [Southam] was booked.

“I thought Bedsente’s was a decent tackle, although I can see why the ref booked him, but then their players have pushed him, he’s pushed back and got a second yellow because his hands were too near the player’s face.

“When it comes to the penalty decision, the lads are convinced that the player has dived. That leaves me bitterly disappointed, frustrated and unhappy.”

United return to league action this weekend with the visit to Gander Green Lane of Whitehawk.