Alton manager Kevin Adair was left frustrated with the referee’s performance after a dramatic 2-2 draw at home to Tadley Calleva in the Combined Counties Premier Division South on Saturday.

Three players received red cards in the action-packed match. There were also numerous yellow cards.

Alton led at the break having had slightly the better of the first half. Archie Larkham broke the deadlock on 34 minutes when he struck home from the edge of the box through a body of players.

The tone of the second half was set one minute in. Mac Ford challenged for a ball on the byline and the referee brandished a red card. Tadley equalised on 55 minutes thanks to Jordan Goater’s superb 20-yard free kick.

The one-man disadvantage did not deter the hosts from pushing on and they regained the lead on 75 minutes when Ross Stepney powered home a header from a corner.

The visitors were then reduced to ten men when the retreating Goater tripped Jamie Phillips just outside the box and received a second yellow card. Tadley were reduced to nine men with five minutes to go when Brad Neal pulled down Louis Russell 15 yards inside the Alton half and was shown a straight red card.

There was more drama in stoppage time, when Tadley were awarded a penalty in the 92nd minute. Kieran Rodgers confidently dispatched the penalty to make it 2-2.

Adair was left bemused by the referee’s performance. “There wasn’t one bad tackle in the game,” said Adair.

“The referee has made it all about him. It was a really poor performance by the referee and the frustrating thing is there are no consequences for him.”

Next up for Alton is a trip to Camberley Town in the Combined Counties Premier Division South on Saturday (2pm).