YORK City assistant manager Gary Elphick was left frustrated with some key referee decisions in the ten-man Minstermen's 3-1 League Two reverse at high-flying Barnet.

It was York’s first defeat in six league matches, dropping them to fifth.

The game saw striker Josh Stones continue his comeback with another cameo on the bench after coming on in the 57th minute against the Bees - on a night which saw City midfielder Hiram Boateng dismissed for two booking offences. It proved an untimely decision.

York took the lead through Arthur Read’s left-footed strike into the bottom corner, but Kabongo Tshimanga equalised two minutes later with a smart finish past Alfie McNally.

York City assistant Gary Elphick (foreground), pictured with manager Scott Lindsey. (Image: Jonathan Gawthorpe)

placeholder image — York City assistant Gary Elphick (foreground), pictured with manager Scott Lindsey. (Image: Jonathan Gawthorpe)

The visitors were reduced to 10 men after Boateng received a second yellow card for attempting to take a quick free-kick. Jake Reeves volleyed Barnet ahead in the 80th minute before Damola Ajayi’s effort deflected off McNally to seal their first win in three games.

Elphick said: "We are very frustrated. It (red card) stemmed from the decision to award a throw-in, from which they scored. It was difficult to say it was definitely a throw-in to Barnet. I’m really upset for the fans who paid good money to come to London.

"I thought the first 45 minutes was the best of our season. We outplayed them at times, outfought them, moved the ball quicker and created chances. It made me proud to be part of this York side.

"When you’re officiating a big game like this, you’ve got to be on the money. They’re saying he was booked for a dive, but it was actually a shirt pull. You can’t be booking players like the referee has done.

York City midfielder Hiram Boateng (Image: Tony Johnson)

"To go down to 10 men in a big game like this, especially the way he was sent off, was frustrating. It wasn’t a two-footed challenge.

"We have to bottle this up and use it as motivation. That’s my message to the boys. We need to get justice when Barnet come and play us at our place."

Offering his take, Barnet boss Dean Brennan commented: "The response was needed after the last two performances at home. We were excellent against Swindon last week but found ourselves three goals down. York caused us problems with their rotation and forward runs from midfield.

"We went head-to-head in a 3-4-3 before switching to a 4-3-3 midway through the first half. We handled it better, and the response after conceding was fantastic. The red card was a huge moment.

"Kabby is a killer, he’s an assassin and just needed one chance. The goal was something we worked on in training, especially given how technical York are. His quad problem is something we have to manage.

"Our substitutes made an impact, and the players showed a lot of character. We want to stop conceding goals and score more because this division can come down to one goal. We have to be more ruthless and develop a killer mentality."