SHELL-SHOCKED York City manager Billy McEwan was left ruing a "bizarre" decision by referee Shaun Proctor-Green as his side succumbed to a 95th-minute equaliser at ten-man Scarborough yesterday.

Seadogs midfielder Chris Hughes scored his first goal for the club in stoppage time at the McCain Stadium to earn his side, who had been without red-carded Carl Cook since the 63rd minute, a point in a 2-2 draw after City top scorer Andy Bishop had twice put the visitors in front.

But McEwan was unhappy with a harsh free-kick awarded moments before Scarborough's last-gasp equaliser against Minstermen midfielder Darren Dunning, who was trying to shield the ball near a corner flag at the other end of the pitch but was penalised for shirt-pulling.

The City boss said: "The referee told me that the free-kick was for Darren Dunning tugging the guy's shirt but I never saw that or anything else wrong. I thought the referee generally had a good game but, for some reason, he's given that bizarre decision and we have got to live with that because they are only human and make mistakes and some strange decisions at this level."

Emmanuel Panther lost possession after the free-kick had been punted upfield and Hughes netted seconds later but McEwan was quick not to criticise the City midfielder who was playing his third game in seven days following a ten-week lay-off with ankle ligament damage.

McEwan said: "Players like Manny, Mark Hotte and James Dudgeon have had to get their fitness in the team because we haven't had any reserve games. Manny tired in the build-up to the goal but, to be fair to him, he was out there doing well for us.

"We know he will get stronger and we don't have to worry about him. It's not his fault and it's probably mine for asking him to try and help us."

McEwan added that he could not believe City had conceded an injury-time equaliser for the third time this season and expressed his sympathy for the 1,400 travelling fans as well as the players, saying: "I thought we had learned our lesson from earlier in the season.

"We put in all that hard work to get our noses in front and could have won by four or five because we had some really good chances but I felt we were still comfortable at 2-1 until we suffered that cruel blow," said McEwan.

"I feel sorry for the fantastic support we had and the players because they gave me everything and did not deserve that but it's their own fault. We know without them silly goals we have given away late in games we could be ten or 12 points further up the table and they have got to get their act together."

Despite his disappointment with the eventual result, McEwan expressed his pleasure with the team's performance at the McCain Stadium and over a Christmas period that has reaped five points from three matches.

He said: "We have got a little run going. I would have been more pleased with maximum points but we are unbeaten in the three games and we are coming back to something like what we are capable of. The belief and confidence has come back and our fitness levels were superb, which was a big bonus for me.

"I thought going forward against Scarborough we were excellent. I was pleased that Andy Bishop got his goals and I wanted him to get his hat-trick and you would usually fancy him in the position he was in to get his hat-trick.

"I also thought our full-backs Lee Andrews and Dave Merris got forward, joined in well and caused them lots of problems."

McEwan agreed with the decision to send off Scarborough left-wing back Cook for fouls on Mark Convery and Darren Dunning, adding: "If you challenge like that you are always going to be in trouble with the referee."

The City boss also thanked the club's vice-presidents for providing the majority of the funds to pay for an overnight stay in Scarborough, therefore avoiding players based in the North-East and Midlands getting up at 7am on the morning of the match.

"Our fans have put their hands in their pocket again and I can't say enough about that," McEwan said.

Updated: 10:21 Tuesday, January 03, 2006