Defender Neil Jenkins hit out at linesman Colin Lymer for his role in Eastbourne Borough’s controversial 2-1 defeat against leaders Burton Albion.

Borough were furious Burton’s equaliser was allowed to stand despite Martin Butler appearing to be offside when he ran through to beat Lee Hook.

Jenkins was booked for questioning the decision and accused Lymer of unfairly targeting him throughout the second half.

Borough are also considering lodging a complaint against Lymer after he allegedly kicked Jenkins as he tried to return to the pitch after receiving treatment.

Jenkins said: “I had no problem with the linesman on my side in the first half but as soon as the second half began the other linesman had it in for me.

“He was swearing at me at one point and I think the fact he didn’t like me influenced his decisions.

“For their equaliser Marc Pullan and Ben Austin stepped up and the guy was a good two yards offside. To make it worse he then got me booked when all I said to him was ‘are you sure?’.

“How he missed the foul on me right at the end I don’t know and now I’ll probably miss the Senior Cup semi-final.

“On top of that he blatantly stuck a leg out and caught me when I was trying to come back on the pitch.”

Jenkins is no stranger to run-ins with officials with his yellow card on Saturday taking him to 12 for the season.

The former Crawley left-back admits he is competitive but believes he has gained an unfair reputation with officials.

He added: “All the referees speak to each other and tell each other who to look out for.

“I’d never had the referee on Saturday (Kevin Johnson) but he came up to me before the game to warn me to behave. That’s not on.”

Jenkins has been in inspired form since returning from a two-game ban last month and it was a shame another fine display on Saturday was overshadowed by controversy.

The 27-year-old won the corner from which Borough took the lead in the 26th minute. Matt Crabb swung over a cross from the left and Danny Brown nodded home emphatically for his first goal since arriving at Priory Lane in November.

The goal came against the run of play and only two good saves from Lee Hook ensured they went in ahead at half-time.

The Borough goalkeeper rushed off his line to block from Darren Stride and then showed great reflexes to keep out an effort from Lee Morris just before the interval.

Burton’s pressure finally told in the 63rd minute as substitute Butler ran on to a flick from Stride to slide a shot past Hook and the despairing lunge of Pullan.

It was the first goal Borough had conceded for 233 minutes and their response was impressive.

Skipper Paul Armstrong glanced a header wastefully wide from Jay Lovett’s cross and then sent a shot narrowly off target.

Andy Atkin was also denied in a goalmouth scramble and Borough looked the most likely winners until Burton struck again five minutes into injury time.

John McGrath swung over a high cross to the far post which Hook failed to deal with and substitute Mark Byrne headed back across goal for Greg Pearson to bundle the ball home.

Boss Garry Wilson said: “Roy McFarland (Burton manager) apologised to me after the game and that shows how unlucky we were.

“They were over the moon to get a result as we made it really difficult for them and definitely deserved something out of it. It is hard to take when you lose in that manner. Marc (Pullan) said it was definitely offside for their equaliser and then we gave a poor goal away right at the end.”

Borough will field a full-strength squad when they take on Shoreham in the Sussex Senior Cup semi-final at Three Bridges tonight. Jenkins could miss out through injury while Jacob Mingle is cup-tied.

Eastbourne: Hook, Austin, Baker, Pullan, Jenkins (Harding, 90), Lovett, Brown, Armstrong, M Crabb, Gargan (Atkin, 58), Jeffery (N Crabb, 58). Subs not used: Smart, Wormull.

Booked: Baker, Jenkins.

Burton: Poole, Webster, Simpson, James, McGrath, Stride (Byrne, 74), Corbett, Gilroy, Buxton, Morris (Butler, 61), Harrad (Pearson, 86). Subs not used: Deeney, Austin.

Booked: Webster.