Daisy Hill fell to their second single-goal defeat in 48 hours when they suffered a 1-0 reverse at Holker Old Boys in a North West Counties League First Division North clash on Bank Holiday Monday.

A Brandon Collins goal 11 minutes into the second half proved to be decisive for the Cumbrians, but the main talking point of the afternoon from a Daisy point of view was the referee’s decision to wave away claims for a penalty, when Ryan Talbot appeared to be fouled in the box 15 minutes from time.

Daisy manager Lee Hill felt afterwards that in a close game, the decision was crucial in the outcome.

“It was a stonewall penalty, Ryan Talbot was clean through on goal, and got taken out,” said Hill. “It was a big decision in the game, and it has gone against us. On another day, you get it, and if we score we come away with a point.

“The conditions weren’t great, although they were the same for both sides, but playing up the slope in the second half against the wind was difficult for us.

“In fairness, we didn’t create many chances, and it was a frustrating afternoon generally.

“In the first half the lads didn’t really get going, and that was disappointing, but although in the second half we came out a little bit better, one mistake cost us the goal.”

Both sides struggled to cope with the blustery conditions in Cumbria that affected the game throughout, and clear goalscoring opportunities were generally few and far between.

Daisy’s best chance of the first half came on 34 minutes, when Holker keeper Sam Stephens failed to claim a cross, and the ball fell to Karl Farrell, who fired just over.

At the other end, Daisy keeper Morgan Newns was called into action twice in the final five minutes of the half, with two fine saves to keep the home side at bay.

Another Farrell shot on 54 minutes was Daisy’s first effort of the second half, and two minutes later the home side broke the deadlock when a cross into the box wasn’t dealt with by the Daisy defence, and Collins latched on to the ball and placed a shot across Newns into the far corner.

It almost got worse for Daisy two minutes later when Holker were awarded a penalty, but once again Newns came to the rescue with a good save from Tom Stephenson’s spot-kick.

However, it was a penalty decision at the other end that proved to be the afternoon’s main talking point, when Talbot advanced on goal with a storming run, and appeared to be taken out by a defender’s challenge inside the box, but the referee waved the appeals away.

Although Daisy battled well in the closing stages, Holker defended stubbornly to hold out for the win.

Daisy’s next game in the North West Counties League First Division North is on Saturday when they host Ashton Town at New Sirs (3pm).