Bermuda's critical shortage of referees was all too evident during Sunday's FA Cup quarter-final match between Southampton Rangers and Prospect at Southampton Oval.

And Rangers coach Nick Jones wasn't amused.

"It's ridiculous! There were four games today and for us to have a second-class referee who had come there originally to run the line and have no other officials is a joke!" complained Jones shortly following his team's 1-1 draw with Prospect.

As players from both teams warmed up for the scheduled 2.30 p.m. kick-off, Ralph Tumbridge was the only official present at the South Shore ground as both Tracy Adams and Oral Swan failed to show.

Adams later turned up mid-way through the opening period to relieve one of the two makeshift linesmen while it was later discovered that Swan had pulled out at the last minute.

"I have to give credit to the guy (Tumbridge) for stepping in and doing the job but there was a lot on the line. He was injured and had to receive medical treatment - he couldn't run 20 yards. I was also a bit disappointed when Tracy Adams arrived.

"Tracy, as a grade one referee,should have stepped in at half-time to take over," added Jones, recalling a bizarre second-half incident when Tumbridge temporarily halted play to receive medical attention for a aching left shin.

"He did as good a job as he could but this isn't joke time. The fact is that this was an FA Cup game which the BFA were in charge of and there was only one of four match officials - and there should have been four - present for the start. This is really nuts!"

If Jones was bothered by the referee situation, poor finishing by his strikers must have left him breathing fire.

"We had chances but I must salute Kevin Bean (Prospect `keeper) because he was fantastic," said Jones.

"There was no question about it. He kept them in the game. But fair shout to them. They had a free kick with three minutes to go and they put it in and I think my team showed great character by coming back to snatch a draw.

"So I think that we will just have to go at them again in the replay."

Yesterday, Bermuda Referees Association chairman Aldwin Savery, ironically the president of Southampton Rangers, said: "We had appointed referees to do all the games. However, the referee who we had originally appointed to do the Southampton match pulled out at the last minute explaining that he was unavailable for the remainder of the season.

"That didn't allow us sufficient time to re-appoint someone else. Under ordinary circumstances Mr.Adams would have officiated that game but he had to attend to an urgent job-related matter.

"And so it all boiled down to making the quick decision whether to play the game or not and I felt that Tumbridge did a respectable job."

Meanwhile, it was learned yesterday that referee Swan had originally been appointed to officiate Sunday's match at Southampton Oval but was later forced to withdraw on medical advice from his doctor.

Another top local referee, Anthony Mouchette, was reported to be off the Island over the weekend.