Hat-trick Denied

REFEREE Graham Scott’s whistle deprived Reuben Reid of a possible hat-trick at Scunthorpe as the Pilgrims went down 1-0 at Glanford Park.

The Argyle number 9 had the ball in the net twice before Etienne Esajas netted the game’s decisive goal, only for the efforts to be ruled out, for offside and his foul on a defender.

Then, as the Pilgrims fought back after going behind, Andy Dawson handled Lewi Alessandra’s cross but Scott turned down hearty appeals for a penalty which Reuben would have taken.

Reuben said: “I’m going to have to watch the first on video and I think the second was a perfectly good goal.

“I looked at the linesman and he wasn’t flagging, so I think the ref’s given it. He gestured with his hands that I pushed [the defender] in the back. I’ll have a look on the video.

“It would have been nice to score another goal. We would have been 1-0 up and obviously goals change matches. I was very disappointed that goal wasn’t allowed to stand.

“Perhaps, if my goal, which I think is legitimate, stays and is not ruled out, maybe we go on to win the three points.”

As for the penalty appeal, Reuben said: “It goes around. In the game we won against [Bristol] Rovers, we had two stonewall penalties against us – one’s hit Marvin’s hand and one’s hit me on the face which has clipped my hand on the way through.

“When things happen at speed during the game, it’s hard for the referee.

“It was another decision which could have gone our way. If it is a penalty, I will always put my hand up to take it. I’m that sort of character.”