The Nationwide League have blamed an injury crisis for a Brighton ref taking charge of a game involving Albion.

Clive Penton, from Woodingdean, was the fourth official for last Friday's match at Reading.

He took over when referee Mark Cowburn was forced off at half time by a calf injury.

League spokesman John Nagle said: "There is currently a shortage of refs owing to an unusually high number of injuries.

"Due to injuries Clive had to be called in to be the fourth official. He refereed at Bristol Rovers on Saturday as well, which emphasises the shortage.

"It was not absolutely ideal, but his performance was excellent. There was nothing that could call his integrity into question.

"Long term we are going to extend the group of officials, currently numbering 48, to 54 next season."

Penton's replacement of Cowburn, rather than his senior linesman Roger East from Wiltshire, was in line with League policy.

"In televised or high profile games it's League policy that the fourth official is appointed from the list of referees," Nagle explained.

"The others are listed as linesmen, so he is a more senior referee."

Injury crisis or not, it is surely not beyond the League to ensure none of the four officials for a match are from the same place as one of the teams. That places an intolerable burden on the official concerned.

I felt sorry for Penton. If anything, he was more likely to go against Albion to avoid any misguided accusations of bias, but imagine the furore if, for example, he had given a controversial decision either way deep into stoppage time?

Penton will take charge of the Sussex Senior Cup final between Crawley and Eastbourne Borough at Priory Lane on May 5.

More from the camp at thisisthealbion.co.uk