The Poppies goalkeeper described Sheldrake's performance as "the most biased I have ever seen".

However, Harper admitted Kettering, themselves, had not produced the kind of display he had been hoping for.

He said: "I would say that in all my years of playing professional football at this or a higher level, that was the most biased refereeing performance I have ever seen.

"He didn't give us anything all game. It's no excuse because we weren't on it but he didn't help the cause – it was ridiculous.

"I will probably get in trouble for having a moan but he didn't give us anything. However, I am not going to make excuses because they beat us fair and square.

"In the lead up to the game, the gaffer told us what they would be like and we probably didn't deal with it as well as we could have done.

"We were lacking something going forward and we are very disappointed and frustrated with the result.

"The scoreline probably tells you that not everyone was 100 per cent focused on the game with Lincoln in the background.

"I can only speak from my point of view and I gave all I could give. When you come up against a team like Histon everyone has to do that and maybe we didn't do it."

Harper, meanwhile, believes the Poppies can bounce back from the
setback and shock the Imps at Sincil Bank tomorrow night.

"If you can't get yourself up for an FA Cup game then you have a real problem", he added.

"I have had some fantastic days in the competition and it just gives you a lift.

"I believe we can go and beat them. We should have done that in the first game but there is nothing to fear."

Full coverage in Sport on Monday