Former York City manager Alan Little left Bootham Crescent a far from happy man last night.

Having seen his Southend United side draw 2-2 with his former club, Little lashed his own players but mainly Welwyn Garden City referee Mike Halsey.

Little, the Southend camp and even the City staff were agreed that Minstermen defender Mark Sertori had handled the ball inside his own penalty area to deny former York striker Neil Tolson an effort on goal after 68 minutes of last night's clash.

At the time Southend led 1-0 and a penalty at that stage could have proved decisive, but Halsey failed to spot Sertori's raised hand and Little was livid - particularly as it was only two minutes later that City got back into the game.

"He used two hands to push the ball away but the referee didn't even see it," blasted an incredulous Little.

"It was absolutely ridiculous, but then I have to think that we are away from home and sometimes you don't get the decisions.

"But I don't see how not because it is blatant handball and everyone has seen it. But that is our story at the moment, we are not getting these decisions but that has got to change."

Certainly Little's former assistant at Bootham Crescent, current City boss Neil Thompson had some sympathy with his opposite number.

"It certainly looked like a handball, but sometimes these things go for you and that is how it was for us," said Thompson, who added with a smile, " But I actually think it was only one hand."

But Little had other problems to mull over as his side, littered with ex-City players though without John Tinkler who was laid low by a virus, managed to self-destruct having been in control.

Little was unhappy with the way both goals were conceded with Marc Williams being allowed time to turn and plant in a 70th equaliser and then five minutes later Scott Jordan's curling free kick put City in front before Martin Carruthers salvaged a point with an 80th minute strike.

And the main target was United keeper Mel Capleton.

"I don't like putting pressure on people but my goalkeeper has got to take the blame," said Little.

"For the first goal he was given a perfectly good back pass and kicked it into touch five yards further up field. It was a dreadful kick and from the throw-in they have equalised.

"It's not his fault that Simon Coleman and Nathan Jones have failed to pick up the one man they had to mark between them and let him score, but it was still a bad error."

But Little was even more stunned by the second goal where Capleton's positioning for Jordan's free kick was suspect to say the least.

"I said before they even took the free kick that if Scott hit the target then it was going in," said Little.

"The goalkeeper was stood only a foot off the post, if he was left to middle of his goal he would have saved it, but no he stood by the post.

"I am sorry to say it but he just doesn't know the game and it is that kind of naivety that is costing us ."

And that was even more galling to Little who felt that his return to Bootham Crescent as a manager, for the first time since his sacking by the club eight months ago, had all the makings of a runaway success.

"The game was ours because overall we were more composed and confident and we have thrown away a great chance for a win," said Little.

"We had a spell where we were just hacking it for 20 minutes and didn't manage to pass it and move it and got edgy, but the rest of the game was ours.

"But then we conceded those goals and to be honest that has been our problem for weeks and weeks and I have asked the players yet again when are they going to learn?"

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