MALDON & Tiptree and Heybridge Swifts played out a 1-1 draw in their derby match held on Boxing Day.
It was the first time Cliff Akurang was coming up against his former coaching partner Alan Kimble in opposing dugouts and both were left with differing views on a late decision from the referee.
The match was goalless at half-time but only five minutes after the restart Billy Hunt dribbled through the Maldon defence to dink the ball over Tom Warren.
The home side were playing off the back of consecutive 1-0 wins and it looked likely they were going to get the hat-trick and move up to 14th.
But they were made to be punished for not putting the game to bed in the 89th minute when the referee turned the game on it's head after adjudging Damien Green of fouling Alex Andrews in the box.
To add insult the referee opted to send off the defender for being the last man and Nathan Koranteng stepped up and dispatched the penalty past Danny Sambridge to give Maldon a share of the points.
Maldon boss Alan Kimble felt the draw was more than what his side deserved and had no qualms that the right decision was made.
"Overall I was pleased how we kept going until the end and I thought 1-1 was a fair result," said Kimble.
"I've had a look at it on YouTube and I thought it was a definitely a penalty.
"A little bit of sour grapes on their part but at the end of the day the referee's out there on the pitch, he has to make decisions and thankfully enough he made the right decision.
"Nathan tucked the penalty in well and we could have gone and won it in the end."
The Heybridge Swifts manager however took the opposite view on the decision that denied his side their third win in as many games.
"From the angle from where I was standing, which was behind the play, it looked as though he got the ball but obviously the referee was in a better position than I was," said Akurang.
"For me if someone goes to ground and comes away with the ball then that indicates that they've made connection with the ball and that's what it looked like to me so I feel the referee's got that one wrong but it's not going to affect the result now, it's 1-1 and that's how it stays, all we can do is roll our selleves up and put this one right."
Heybridge face an away trip to Barkingside on New Year's day who they drew 1-1 with earlier in the season whilst Maldon & Tiptree are at home in another derby this time against Burnham Ramblers.
Burnham's match on Saturday against Great Wakering Rovers was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch and they remain rooted to the bottom of the table after seven losses on the bounce.
Witham Town also succumbed to the adverse weather on the weekend and they're match at home to Canvey Island was also postponed.
They face a tough away trip to Leiston on New Year's Day in hope of ending a run of three games without a win.