TOUGH-TACKLING Gary Pearson says he might as well hang up his boots rather than fall victim to petty refereeing decisions.

The 26-year-old, who has only recently returned to action following a lengthy spell on the sidelines, collected his second booking of the season on Saturday after a challenge on Torquay's Lee Canoville.

And Pearson believes players like himself may become a dying breed if referees continue to clamp down on the physical side of the game.

"If you take tackling out of the game then it's pointless for players like me even playing," said Pearson.

"It's fair to say the referee didn't have one of his better games and I have no idea why he booked me. I won the ball fairly and squarely, yet their lad kicked me afterwards and I was booked!

"Some of the things he was blowing for were ridiculous. It wasn't a particularly nasty game yet the referee insisted on pulling things back."

Quakers may have extended their unbeaten run to eight games but Pearson revealed his concern after a third successive draw.

"We did get a point but we really should have punished them in the first half," said Pearson. "We have to beat teams like that, especially when we're at home.

"We knew and I think we showed in the first half we were just as good as them. If you go back to Carlisle, that was never going to be a great game on such a difficult surface.

"It's nice not to lose but we need to start turning these draws into wins."

Pearson has been in and out of the team since returning to action over a month ago following a career-threatening neck injury.

And the Easington-born star hopes to get a regular run-out following a remarkable recovery which sidelined him for eight months.

"Obviously I'd like to be playing more often but when the defence is playing as well as it is I can't really have any complaints," said Pearson.