Referee Reuben Simon has come out fighting in response to criticism from Wealdstone manager Gordon Bartlett in the wake of his side’s Middlesex Senior Cup final defeat.

Bartlett was furious with the official after the Stones were beaten 3-2 at Grosvenor Vale on Saturday and vented his frustrations in a post-match interview.

Simon was left unimpressed by the veteran manager’s remarks and says Bartlett declined his offer to discuss the match after the final whistle was blown.

In a statement released by the West Middlesex Referees Society, he said: "It was disappointing to be made aware of Gordon's public comments, the fact is that Gordon wanted to have a chat in my dressing room at half time which was witnessed by my colleagues.

"Gordon had knocked on the door and when he came in he explained he would like to ask a question. I politely advised him as I always do to all Managers that any questions he had I would answer at the end of the game"

“In my view there is only one reason a manager wants to ask a Referee a question at half time,  in their dressing room, and that is to attempt to gain influence so that decisions go their way in the second half.

“I treat all managers equally and none are given special treatment.

"What I and my colleagues found  interesting, is that when Gordon was given the opportunity at the end of the game to ask any questions he declined this offer.

 "In my view managers should always take full responsibility for their teams performances and had Gordon had a query over a free kick and asked the question at the end of the game, he would have been advised that in my view there was no question that his player had committed an offence prior to any perceived offence against his player from his viewpoint, which he would have been looking at from over sixty yards away.

“He should in my view have been gracious in defeat and not made inappropriate comments in public that I felt needed to be responded to."

Defeat failed to tarnish a great campaign for Stones who will spend the summer preparing for life in the Conference South.