MATT Clark crashed out of the Blue Square UK Open at the Reebok Stadium last night in controversial circumstances.

The home hero was beaten 9-2 by Andy Hamilton but was left fuming at the organisation of his match.

"I can't take anything away from Andy because he is a good player who beat me fair and square," said Worsley-based Clark.

"It is never a disgrace to get beaten by a good player but I am disappointed by some of the organisation.

"I couldn't get out of the players' door to get to my board, so I had to push through people on the main floor and that meant I was 13 minutes late. The referee reminded me that I can only be 10 minutes late.

"Then players who had finished their game were walking down the side of our board and through the curtain when we were playing.

"I complained to the referee but he said he couldn't do anything until the break.

"I was disappointed last year when I had to play at 1am and it has happened again. Once is an accident, two times is unacceptable."

But Clark accepted that he had not adapted to the conditions as well as his opponent, who took his place in the last 32, which commences this afternoon.

"I have to learn to not let these things affect me," he said. "Andy had to deal with them too and I can't argue that he deserved to win. I missed quite a few doubles."

Clark will be back in action next week in Bristol where he is banking on a good result being enough to see him qualify for the World Matchplay Championships at Blackpool.

Elsewhere, there were simple victories for defending champion Raymond van Barneveld (9-0) against Tony Ayres, Ronnie Baxter (9-1) over Sam Rooney and two-time UK Open winner Phil Taylor (9-3) against John Ferrell.

Mark Walsh beat 2004 champ Rolan Scholten 9-4 and in the heavyweight clash of the night, Adrian Lewis won a thrilling game against Wayne Mardle on the deciding leg.