Rutherglen Glencairn midfielder Martin McBride says his side didn’t deserve to lose the Scottish Junior Cup final – but that’s football.
Red-hot favourites Cumnock stepped it up in the second half at Broadwood last night and that pressure paid off in the final minute of stoppage time when Findlay Frye rammed the ball into the net.
That sent the noisy Nock fans into delirium and Glencairn into despair, who fancied their chances in a penalty shoot-out that was literally minutes away.
But McBride concedes that a West of Scotland First Division side challenging a team from a higher division means they can take heart from the encounter.
Former East Kilbride, Queen’s Park and Albion Rovers star McBride, 37, said: “It was tough. To concede any time in the game is tough, but especially with it being in stoppage time.
“Neither team really deserved to win it, we were set for penalties, and it’s a sucker-punch – but that’s football.
“We gave as good as we got, against a team from a higher division, especially in the first half.
“I felt we were the better team in the first half, dominating the ball, and then they came out in the second half, got a grip of the game, changed their formation and went a bit more direct.
“It was a bit more difficult, but I still don’t think they had any clear-cut chances.
“Again, that’s how football goes, you don’t always get what you deserve.
“We can take a bit of heart from that. I’m a bit older, I’m at the end of my career, but all the young boys just have to enjoy it and try to get to the final next year.”
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