Colin Spence admitted he was almost embarrassed to walk off the park after watching his Irvine Meadow side lose 1-0 at home to nine-man Arthurlie this afternoon.
Aaron Healy's 89th minute goal sealed a sensational away win for the Barrhead outfit who saw out the final 20 minutes in searing 27 degree heat without red-carded duo Jordan Leyden and Kyle Elrick.
But victory was no more than the newly-promoted visitors deserved after bossing a sluggish Medda side who could only muster one shot on target throughout the West of Scotland League Premier Division clash.
Meadow co-boss Spence branded the result "unacceptable" and insisted it was "back to the drawing" board for his squad after last week's impressive 3-2 victory against Clydebank
He told Ayrshire Football News: "The boys let themselves down massively today. It's hard to defend the players, it really is.
"We spoke before the game about how we've came off the back of a great result and not to believe in your own press too much.
"They were excellent last week so we showed a bit of faith in them and I think they've thrown it back in our face a wee bit.
"I think they've let us down but more importantly I think they've let themselves down. They need to go away and tell their mates that they got beat off of nine men.
"I am almost touching on feeling embarrassed coming of the park there. That's an embarrassment to lose to nine men, not even come off the park with a draw.
"We knew Arthurlie would come here today and it would be a cup final for them. We have to find that extra gear but at times here at Meadow Park we just don't do it.
"It's just not acceptable. When you're playing with a club like Irvine Meadow you just don't get to decide when you turn up and when you don't.
"I think the boys need to take a lot of responsibilty for that result today.
"There's only so much you can do as a coaching team. You set the team up exactly the same way as last week and the quality was miles away."
Arthurlie arrived in baking hot Irvine still searching for their first point of the season after kicking off the campaign with back-to-back defeats.
But there was nothing to suggest a lack of confidence in the ranks as they took the game to Meadow from the first whistle.
Dale Simeon should have fired them ahead as early as the third minute when he pounced on Healy's cut back three yards out, only to somehow miss the target.
Healy quickly emerged as 'Lie's main threat, first testing Meadow goalkeeper Marc Waters with a low drive, then fizzing a dangerous ball across the six yard box where there were no takers.
Meadow finally showed their teeth in 21 minutes when Kieran Boubekri's defence splitting pass sent Connor Boyd in behind the 'Lie back-line but his shot was weak and easily blocked by keeper Garry Black.
That was as good as it got for the hosts and they were fortunate to go in level at the break.
A McGuaghey free-kick flew inches wide of the target and Healy went just as close with a strike from the edge of the box before the whistle sounded for half-time.
Within five minutes of the restart however, Arthurlie were dealt a blow when defender Leyden was shown a straight red card for a reckless touchline challenge on Medda full-back Rhys Wallace.
It should've been the catalyst for Meadow to kick-on but they simply never looked like seizing the moment.
Not even substitute Elrick's 71st minute dismissal - another straight red - for a late lunge on Calum Gow was enough to spark the hosts into life.
Instead it was Arthurlie who looked the likelier side to score, sub Lewis Warnock striking the post from Simeon's free-kick delivery late on.
And with just seconds left of the 90 minutes, they got the reward their efforts richly deserved when Healy kept his cool to finish off a lightning quick counter attack with a superb finish from a tight angle.
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