LOUIS Langdown says having games filmed is a useful tool in educating his young AFC Totton side – even if it does throw up some video 'nasties'.

When substitute Dan Western completed Bideford’s comeback from 3-0 down to 3-3 deep into stoppage time at the Testwood Stadium on Tuesday, the Stags were convinced he had handballed it over the line, but their furious protests were waved away.

Now, having reviewed the video evidence, manager Langdown knows for sure that the contentious equaliser should not have stood.

He said: “It was shocking. We know the player put it in with his hand and it’s unbelievable that things like that are allowed to stand. That’s why we put the video straight up on Twitter.

“To make it worse, it came from a free-kick for a foul committed 15 yards inside their half and they took it on halfway line.

“If they’d taken it from the right place it would have been difficult for them to put it on sixpence like they did, but that’s another lesson our lads can learn from.

“We had a 16-year-old (Matt Bozier), two 18-year-olds (Alfy Whittingham and Curtis Young) and a 19-year-old (Charlie Gunson) in midfield, which is pretty much unheard of at this level, and for them to destroy Bideford like we did first half was unbelievable, so there are loads of positives to take out of the game.

“But Bideford are very cute and I’m pleased we’ve got video because it helps us massively to learn what to do when you’re up against a physical side like that. This time next year, we'll be a lot better for it.”

With the end of normal time approaching Totton led 3-1, but a 90th-minute goal followed by Western’s last-gasp leveller made for a sickening finale.

“We outplayed them for 89 minutes, but we don’t have the size Bideford have got and they just lumped it into our box," said Langdown. "Having it on video lets us see who’s got beaten, who’s run off who, etc.

“To have video is a massive thing for us. Without it, it’s opinion-based; with it, it’s factual – and we know Bideford’s equaliser was handball, which is difficult to take.

“At 3-0, we should have been four, five or six up and when that 95th-minute goal went in, it felt like we’d lost.

"We’ve got to pick the lads up now, be as positive as we can and go again.”

The 20th-placed Stags hosts 16th-placed Bishops Cleeve on Saturday before travelling to Winchester City (11th) on Easter Monday, both 3pm.

Langdown's men round off the season at home to Evesham United next Saturday (April 22).

Young centre-back Harry Medway is suspended for all three remaining games after being red-carded at Barnstaple last week, but experienced duo Ian Oliver and Neil Williams should be back in the mix.