TRINITY F&SC lost their grip on the Jeremie Cup in Guernsey on Saturday following a controversial 2-1 defeat by Northerners at the Corbet Field.

North scored a controversial first-half stoppage-time equaliser by Jon Veron and a late winner from substitute Matt Dorrian.

But the game will be remembered for the barrage of abuse levelled at referee Peter Davison by incensed Trinity players and officials before and after he blew the half-time whistle.

It led to the dismissal of Trinity’s Jon Fitzmaurice for foul and abusive language.

Later two police officers arrived at the ground during the second half and for the presentation ceremony, where aggrieved Trinity players and supporters refused to applaud the match officials.

Trinity manager Joe Morley said: ‘Three people spoilt a smashing game of football and ruined the game.

It was an absolutely blatant foul [for the first goal] and the linesman flagged and the referee overruled him.

It then became a fiasco.

‘That is the worst refereeing performance I have seen for a long time.

At a crucial time in the game he made a wrong decision.

‘We feel the first goal was unjust – everybody in the ground saw it was a foul.

I would not say we were robbed but we were hindered.’ Trinity goalkeeper Jimmy Styles was cautioned when he brought Glen Dyer down but referee Davison showed a yellow card and awarded a free kick outside the area.

Most thought it should have been a red card and a penalty! Trinity then went down the other end and Gavin Le Page sliced Barry Beatson’s cross into his own goal giving Trinity the lead.

All hell broke loose as North equalised.

Simon Tostevin appeared to foul Chris Richards 30 yards out but nothing was given and Veron equalised.

Trinity’s contingent were adamant linesman Neil Lunn had flagged for an infringement, but had been ignored by Davison who allowed the goal to stand.

Fitzmaurice was red-carded shortly after the half-time whistle went as Trinity players surrounded the referee, some with fingers pointing and hurling abuse at him.

Trinity’s luck finally run out with 13 minutes remaining, Dorrian’s sweetly struck shot deflecting in off a covering defender.

Trinity: Jimmy Styles, Chris Richards (Gerard Meadows), James Hayward, Richard Parker, John Beatson (Peter Smith), Dave Le Roux (Graham Ling), John Rutter, Jon Fitzmaurice, Barry Beatson, Jimmy Reilly.