Barrow AFC manager Ian Evatt was frustrated with some of the decisions he felt went against his team during their 0-0 draw against Ebbsfleet United.

The Bluebirds thought they should have been awarded a late penalty when Jack Hindle appeared to be sent sprawling by Ebbsfleet goalkeeper Nathan Ashmore, who had just fumbled Lewis Hardcastle’s strike.

But their appeals were waved away by referee David Richardson, who gave an erratic performance at Holker Street, as he booked five AFC players during the game, some for minor offences.

While his inconsistency riled Evatt, the fact that Barrow have only been awarded one penalty since early September is one that is leaving him increasingly baffled.

He said: “I don’t know what we’ve got to do to get a penalty, I really don’t.

“I’m getting very frustrated, I have to be careful with what I say, but I’ve sent five decisions to Steve Dunn, the head of referees, this week. He looked at all five and said all five were penalties.

“There comes a point where something needs to be done because there are precious points on the line and people’s jobs.

“There’s a chance for us to get higher up in the league, towards the play-offs, and we need to get these decisions right 99 times out of 100 and, at the minute, I don’t feel like we are.”

The fact that the match became as disjointed as it did is down to Ebbsfleet successfully turning it into a battle after playing their way back in, following what was a bright start from the Bluebirds.

To their credit, the hosts continued to try to play the game their way, but they couldn’t force a breakthrough, despite having several good chances over the course of the 90 minutes.

Evatt said: “It’s another point and another clean sheet. I’m slightly disappointed because I felt we should have won the game.

“At times, we played some lovely stuff, but when teams come and disrupt games and time-waste at every opportunity and just more or less park the bus, it’s difficult to break down.

“We have to take credit for that because it’s a lot of respect we’re getting shown now, but we also have to find a way of breaking it down.”