It was one of the major flashpoints in the game - and one that perplexed Carlisle United and their manager.
Blues defender Paul Huntington ended up losing his shirt in a penalty-box tussle with Stevenage defender Dan Sweeney.
But despite the home centre-half seeing his jersey removed in the tangle, ref Tom Reeves saw nothing wrong with the visiting player's challenge.
They battled for the ball as a Carlisle corner came in and, as the opportunity passed, a melee broke out near the goal - while a shirtless Huntington stood bewildered.
His and United's protests were to no avail, while Stevenage claimed the experienced Cumbrian had also been a guilty party in the battle for the ball.
That held little ice with Paul Simpson, with the Blues boss adamant his side should have been awarded a spot-kick in the game that finished 0-0.
"Sweeney isn’t even looking at the ball, and he virtually pulls his shirt over his head,” said Simpson, who said he had watched footage of the incident before commenting.
“The referee makes a gesture to suggest that Hunts is grappling as well, but he has done absolutely nothing wrong.
"All he did was go to try and get the ball and he had his shirt pulled, so for me that’s a penalty."
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