Phil Parkinson added his voice to the chorus of disapproval at new laws governing added time after Altrincham were denied an opening-day win in controversial circumstances at The J.Davidson Stadium on Saturday.

Leading through an 80th-minute goal from Chris Conn-Clarke and seemingly on course for a morale-boosting three points, Alty were pegged back by a Dagenham & Redbridge equaliser that came with the clock ticking round to 10 past five.

It made the score 1-1 in the eighth minute of additional time, and with a further few seconds being played after eight minutes were added to the first half, it effectively meant the game had lasted for 117 minutes.

“It’s ridiculous to be playing that long,” said Alty boss Parkinson. “There are teams who everyone knows will waste time or have a game plan where the ball isn’t on the pitch that much, but we’re certainly not one of them.

“I know referees are told they have to do it, and it is difficult for them, but they have to interpret what is happening in a game and decide if a team are deliberately wasting time.

“We’ll see if it’s still the same come Christmas, but, as things stand, it looks like we’ll be playing the best part of 110 minutes most games, and I feel we are being persecuted for that.

“I thought the referee generally managed the game well, but to add that amount of time is just crazy. It’s a shame, because I was really pleased with so much of what we did, but we didn’t get the result we deserved.”

Parkinson has further strengthened his squad by signing versatile former Coventry City defender George Burroughs, who appeared as a substitute in Alty’s final two pre-season games.

Equally at home at right-back or centre-half, the 20-year old spent 15 years at Coventry and was a mainstay of their successful under-23 side prior to leaving the club in May. He wasn’t involved on Saturday but is available for this Saturday’s game away to Woking.