BILLERICAY Town boss Harry Wheeler has risked the wrath of the FA after publicly criticising referee Richard Gardner after his side’s 2-1 defeat at Slough Town.

Moses Emmanuel cancelled out Matt Lench’s opener on the stroke of half-time.

But Manny Williams tucked away a spot-kick after Ross Lafayette had been penalised for handball on 69 minutes to consign Billericay to a third National League South loss in succession.

The visitors finished the clash with 10 men as Jake Robinson was dismissed for dissent and Wheeler, whose appeal against Charlie Wassmer’s red card in the defeat to Torquay United was turned down by the FA just 24 hours before the latest setback, feels there is a hidden agenda against his side due to high-profile owner Glenn Tamplin.

“I might get in trouble but the referee was horrendous again,” said the Billericay boss.

“No matter what people think of this club on the outside, the owner puts in his money, works hard and is extravagant, but all we want is a level playing field when we are playing games.

“For a fourth week in a row, the ref made some shocking decisions.

“We’ll appeal the red card and fully expect it to be overturned.

“The lads work hard, they are professional and there are no egos.

“They work really hard and deserve more.

“That is taking nothing away from Slough because they were good and worked hard.

“But we appealed a red card last week which wasn’t overturned because there was no clear and obvious error.

“Slough appealed a red card and it got overturned even though there was no clear and obvious error.

“Both of their goals came from long throws taken by the lad that had his red card overturned.

“He wouldn’t have played if the red card wasn’t rescinded and little things like that matter.”

Slough’s Lench broke the deadlock just past the half hour mark, but Billericay responded with Emmanuel firing home moments before the break.

Williams restored Slough’s slender advantage and Billericay’s hopes of levelling matters for a second time evaporated as Robinson was given his marching orders.

Despite the poor run of form, Wheeler has backed his side to seal a play-off place.

Wheeler, whose side remain in the top seven, added: “I feel disappointed for the lads but I fully believe in them.

“I think we’ll cement our place in the play-offs and, from there, everyone knows that is a lottery.

“But, at the moment, we’ve got to rely on ourselves because everyone on the outside clearly has a different agenda.”