Darren Sarll was almost lost for words after the referee’s explanation over the late Luton penalty that almost cost his Stevenage side dearly.

Stevenage had bossed the second period against the Sky Bet League Two leaders but had not been able to craft a breakthrough.

And all their hard way seemed to have been thrown away when Ronnie Henry was adjudged by referee Darren Handley to have fouled James Collins in the box with a tackle from behind.

But that was not what the Bolton official blew for.

Sarll said: “The most scandalous thing about it is the referee’s explanation.

“[He said] the tackle is good, and I’ll repeat that because I know everyone will fall over like I did, the tackle is good but there are two hands in the back.

“Now I don’t know if he’s ever played football but when you slide tackle, if you don’t lean back and extend your legs forward, you can’t make tackles.

“You can’t throw your legs and your upper body forward at the same time, its biomechanically impossible.

“I’ve never heard such a reason in my life.

“Let me say it again; the tackle was good.”

And a clearly exasperated Sarll also believed the man in the middle had missed a clear handball by Luton’s Alan Sheehan that should have led to a Boro spot-kick.

“So am I pleased with a point? No, I’m not because I’m furious because we have been robbed, absolutely robbed.

“I’ve seen them both. I wouldn’t come out and make wild accusations but I’m telling everyone what he told me.

“The tackle’s good but he’s pushed him in the back. I don’t know how you do it.

“What these people don’t realise is the way the supporters view the team, myself, my staff and pretty much everybody at the football club is dependent on results.

“So to come out with such an excuse, I can’t get my head round it.

“It’s very hard for me to accept.”