Sam Ricketts furious with officials following Shrewsbury stalemate
Sam Ricketts was left furious with officials after Shrewsbury were denied a late penalty in the stalemate with AFC Wimbledon.
Greg Docherty's stinging late volley cannoned the outstretched arm of an AFC Wimbledon defender in the box but referee Anthony Backhouse waved play on.
Ricketts, whose side went five games unbeaten after the 0-0 draw against the Dons, felt it was 'one million per cent' a penalty and that the Wimbledon defender admitted to Shrewsbury players that he 'saved' the volley.
"I'm more than convinced it was handball, one million per cent it's a penalty," said the Town boss. "The player has actually put his hands out sidewards and saved it as a goalkeeper, that's a penalty.
"If your hands are by your side I'll never complain about penalties because I think that's very, very hard.
"But when your hands are head height and putting them out sidewards it's a penalty.
"Their player admitted it to ours, he said 'I've saved it'. It's a penalty, the real frustrating thing is we didn't get the decision, it was such a blatant penalty.
"It's so blatant, the player's hands aren't by his side, he's put them out sidewards and saved it to the side of his head."
Josh Laurent had Town's best chance as he sent a first half header over the top while Tyrese Campbell had a number of efforts on goal. AFC Wimbledon failed to register a shot on target. Salop, in 17th, saw their gap to the bottom four cut to three points.
Ricketts feels his side were in full control of the game and that left him pleased with the performance level.
He added: "I'm really pleased with the performance. I think we're really starting to move the ball far better and getting more control in the game.
"The only disappointing thing is we haven't won the game, we had chances to win it, one or two clear-cut chances, one or two half-chances.
"On top of that we should've had a penalty as well."
Town saw a late, added time goal ruled out as keeper Aaron Ramsdale kicked a clearance off Ro-Shaun Williams that rebounded into the net.
The boss continued: "You can see it both ways. Their goalkeeper has run out trying to volley the ball as he's struck it against Ro-Shaun.
"Ro-Shaun is facing our goal, to give the referee the benefit of the doubt Ro-Shaun ran across him, but he's facing the other way.
"So it's the interpretation of the law then. I can understand why that one was possible disallowed.
"I can't understand for the life of me why it wasn't a penalty."
