Shotts Bon Accord boss John McKeown was left gutted after refereeing decisions marred his side’s 2-1 Scottish Junior Cup quarter-final defeat to Auchinleck Talbot.
The West of Scotland League giants were given a tough match by the Hannah Park side, who went ahead through an Ally Martin penalty, a spot-kick won after Talbot keeper Andy Leishman was deemed to have elbowed Kyle Richford.
A controversial offside ruling followed to deny Danny Burns a goal and Shotts’ second of the match.
Auchinleck went on to win the tie through Bryan Boylan and Craig McCracken efforts after Shotts goalkeeper Johnny Murdoch was sent off for handling the ball outside his box.
They had their chances to level despite this. Craig Crawford could have netted a header from a free-kick by Martin Shiels and his 96th minute corner was nodded wide by Scott Faulds.
A return to Conference A action awaits Shotts this weekend against Forth.
McKeown said: “It was a fantastic effort. I’ve not been at a game where Auchinleck have been under so much pressure. We were brilliant, magnificent.
“The full squad were brilliant. If it goes 2-0 it could maybe be a bit different but you don’t get the big breaks when you are playing the big boys..
“It was disappointing not to be 2-0 up as in the first 30 minutes, we had them hemmed in. I felt our penalty was soft, but he gives it and books Leishman. Then it has to be a red as he’s come out and elbowed my player out his road.
“It’s violent conduct then. It looked soft to me though but it can’t be one or the other.
“That was a bit baffling and our second is onside. I felt we had to get a second and they score before that.”
A bumper group of supporters packed out Hannah Park for the big cup game, and McKeown added: “The crowd was a big positive and we had all the Shotts academy teams there.
“They all had their flags and banners, it was fantastic. That is what we are about as a community club.”
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