Penrith were out of luck again in their Northern League Division One game at Thornaby last night.
They got off to a flying start with a goal inside three minutes but then conceded twice before the interval – the second from a hotly disputed penalty.
It finished 2-1 to Thornaby and to add to Penrith’s misfortune they had Matty Bell sent off in the third minute of added time.
Kevin McKenna had scored the early goal for Penrith but the pitch was in poor condition, despite passing a morning inspection.
There was little chance of playing much good football, although to be fair Thornaby scored a well-worked goal on 27 minutes through Shaun Ryder.
Then, on 38 minutes, came the penalty decision which proved decisive.
One of the home players went down in the box with no apparent contact and Penrith expected him being booked for dissent.
But instead the referee pointed to the spot and Kieron Parnaby put his side ahead.
It was a lead they held to the end of the game despite Penrith having what looked a good goal disallowed.
Manager Jim Nichols talks through the game below, hoping that his team’s luck is going to change:
