Harrow Borough manager Dave Anderson described his side’s disallowed equaliser at Canvey Island as “one of the worst decisions he’s seen in 30 years.”

The Reds thought they had earned a point on Tuesday night but Marc Charles-Smith’s injury time effort was ruled out for offside as Boro lost 1-0.

Anderson said: “It was one of the worst decisions I’ve seen in 30 years working in football.

“It wasn’t even close to being offside and that sort of decision can really affect the season, my career and the club’s standings.

“I don’t know how linesmen at any level can get that wrong because it was not a hard decision to get right.”

He added: “The standard of officials at all levels is a real concern.”

The Reds booked their place in the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup after a 2-1 home win over Waltham Abbey on Saturday.

Boro’s reward is a trip to Conference South leaders Basingstoke Town on October 25.

Anderson’s side got off to a fast start last weekend as they opened the scoring against Abbey.

Lewis Driver found Charles-Smith and he fired past keeper James May from the edge of the area.

The visitors almost grabbed an equaliser when Nick Jupp pushed Jason Hallett’s effort around the post.

Waltham Abbey made it 1-1 just after the restart when Jupp brought down Ben Hart and Tom Bruno converted the penalty.

But the hosts grabbed the winner when Jake Gilbert released Steve Butterworth and he side-footed the ball home.

Anderson said: “It would have been nice to be 3 or 4-1 up and we were the better side but you are always worried when it’s only 2-1.

“As a team we went about it in the right way and it’s difficult to pick out an individual.”

The Reds travel to bottom Ryman Premier Division side VCD Athletic this weekend.

The manager said: “It is an important game in our season. We beat them recently in the FA Cup and we need to go and do the same thing in the league.”