Chris Wilder cannot believe the way fourth officials put up with the constant heckling they get from some Conference managers.

Crawley’s Steve Evans is the biggest culprit, but Stevenage boss Graham Westley and his assistants were almost as bad last Saturday, continually complaining about decisions they thought should have gone Boro’s way throughout the match.

So for mild-mannered Wil-der, there was irony in the fact that he was castigated for spending too much time in the technical area in the last home game, against Grays, when, as a manager just trying to pass on advice to his players, he was simply trying to do his job!

“I thought Damian Batt’s sending-off was harsh, he said.

“It was one of those 50-50 decisions, and it’s gone against us.

“But I’m not going to berate the fourth official like the opposition have done.

“I’ll get on with it, and try and organise my side, which we did.

“Mick Brown told me about a complaint that I was stood in the technical area too long at the Kassam Stadium two weeks ago.

“Well, there were three up there and they were all having a pop at the fourth official, continually.

“I thought, if there was a manager or a club that could have been disappointed with some of the referee’s decisions, it was us.”

  • FORMER Oxford United coach and assistant manager Mark Harrison’s goalkeeping courses in and around Oxford are thriving.

They have been going for almost a year and he’s got around 60-70 kids on board, with three going on to have trials with clubs.

Venues are Milton, Witney, Banbury and Reading and the courses take place once a week, open to boys and girls aged seven to 16.

“I think I found a niche in the market, because there was no-one really offering continual specialised goalkeeping courses like this before,” Harrison said.

Any young keepers wanting to improve their skills and attend one of the courses can contact Harrison on 01993 868637.

  • WHILE Oxford have had six players red-carded this season, and feel at least three were very harsh, tomorrow’s opponents Histon have yet to see a player dismissed!

They are the only Blue Square Premier club without a red card this season.