GORNAL Athletic endured another frustrating afternoon with defeat at Telford Juniors.

The Peacocks failed to follow up the previous weekend's success at Willenhall Town as they slipped to a 2-1 loss last Saturday.

Boss Matt Fisher was left to rue wayward finishing and a key referring decision during a goalless first half.

Forward Liam Hickman first had a goal disallowed before then missing the chance to right the wrong from the penalty spot.

Fisher explained: "It was another typically frustrating match.

"I thought he'd scored a perfectly good goal that the ref disallowed. I still don't know why and the officials couldn't really explain it either.

"Liam Hickman rounded the keeper before being hacked down when he was about to score. The ref could have given a penalty for that but he's managed to get down and head it over the line anyway.

"The linesman hasn't flagged for anything but the ref blew for a foul and disallowed it. He told me there was an offence but nothing more than that.

"It's annoying but we had the chance to put it right ourselves that we didn't take."

Telford started the second half better and took the lead before Russell Brookes drew the Peacocks level.

However, the points slipped away when the hosts found a winner seven minutes from time.

"We have dominated most of our games this season, led in most of them but not got the rewards," added Fisher.

"I really do trust and believe in this group of players though. It's still early days and we can soon move up the league with a couple of good wins."

Fisher will be forced to shuffle his pack for this Saturday's FA Vase tie at Uttoxeter Town due to the absence of Brookes and Ryan Cartwright.