Oxford United midfielder Carl Pettefer has hit back after the referee insinuated that he had cheated by booking him for diving in Saturday's FA Cup win at Dagen- ham.

Pettefer admitted he was astonished when Cambridge ref Gary Lewis overruled his own assistant, who was flagging for a penalty, when he appeared to be tripped by a covering defender after rounding goalkeeper Tony Roberts - and instead showed him a yellow card for "simulation".

U's boss Jim Smith stated that Pettefer is "one of the most honest players around" and wouldn't do that sort of thing.

And the former Southend midfielder, who is having an outstanding first season at Oxford, revealed his disbelief at the match official's controversial action.

"I couldn't believe that he didn't give the penalty, let alone booking me for diving," he said.

"If he didn't think it was a penalty, OK - I just couldn't believe it when he booked me.

"Their lad said 'sorry' to me when I was walking back, so that tells you something. He did catch me.

"There was definite contact and he thought it was a penalty as well.

"But it's irrelevant now because we won the game anyway."

United won the fourth qualifying round tie 1-0 after two penalties that were given - one to Oxford won and converted by Rob Duffy, and one to Dagenham, conceded by Barry Quinn, that was superbly saved by Billy Turley.

And Pettefer felt it was rough justice on Quinn, who was penalised when Craig Mackail-Smith's driven cross from the left struck him on a hand.

"Some refs give those and some don't," he said. "It obviously wasn't deliberate, it's just up to the referee.

"There's no way he could have got his hands out of the way. You're not going to stand there with your hands against your back, it's just natural to have them by your side. I thought it was harsh."

He added: "It was a great penalty save from Billy, and the rebound save as well - that was just as good, to be honest.

"I had a feeling he might save it, because he was playing well."

United were rewarded for their battling win with a first-round proper trip to Wycombe, and they also confirmed their superiority over Dagenham, which can only help their bid for the Conference title.

"In the first half there was only one team trying to get the ball down," Pettefer said.

"They were quite direct and we knew that was the way they were going to play, but I thought we dealt with it quite well.

"It's a really good Cup draw. Wycombe are doing well in the league, it's a nice pitch and a nice stadium, and I think they like to play football, so we're all looking forward to it.

"I've played there two or three times and I've got a reasonable record."