Cleveland-based Joyce, who was taking charge of his forty-second game of the season as the relegation rivals met in a crunch clash, awarded Walsall an extremely soft penalty in second-half stoppage time, ultimately allowing the Saddlers to take an undeserved share of the spoils as on loan Queens Park Rangers striker Aramide Oteh slotted home, securing a point in the process.
The Basildon, Canvey, and Southend Echo reports that Joyce had angered the Shrimpers with a number of bizarre decisions including a disallowed goal on the stroke of half-time and a double booking as the official appeared to show Southend defender John White two yellow cards without sending him off.
And Bond, who took charge of the struggling Shrimpers at the beginning of the month following the sacking of Chris Powell, has since held talks with the powers that be, revealing that he has received an apology after feeling that his side were hard done by during the draw at the Banks's.
Speaking via the Echo, the manager said; "I had a conversation with the referee’s association and they were very apologetic about the incidents that cost us so dear. They were very sorry and recognised they were the wrong decisions."