Furious Shotts boss in ref blast as he says penalty decision cost them

Furious Shotts boss John McKeown has blasted match officials for decisions he feels cost them a point against Pollok on Saturday.

But the Hannah Park gaffer admits his side need to put themselves into a position where decisions don’t impact as heavily.

McKeown was left fuming when his side were awarded a free kick for a challenge he insists was inside the box just before half-time, while a mix-up led to Taylor Evans being given a first booking that then resulted in his dismissal.

McKeown said: “Weather conditions were horrendous for both sides, in terms of the wind at Shotts.

“For me, the game turned on a massive decision. We should have had a stonewall penalty and it’s incredible that the referee [Kieran O’Reilly] and the lineswoman [Caitlyn Hamilton] don’t give it – everybody in the stadium could see it was inside the box, but they gave us a free kick outside the box.

“I wouldn’t say we deserved to win the game, but I thought the least we deserved was a point, because I think the conditions ruined the game.

“We didn’t influence the game enough to probably win it, and then the sending off... again, the first yellow card is an absolute disgrace.

“There’s a coming together of two players, he was going to warn them, but Taylor Evans walks away into a right blowy wind. He shouts Taylor back, but he can’t hear him and keeps walking, so he runs after him and books him.

“The second yellow, the ball goes over Taylor’s head, he turns to clear it, and the boy’s head is down, so it’s a high boot and he’s booked for a reckless challenge.

“But at the first yellow card the referee needs to use a wee bit of common sense and say ‘wait a minute here, it’s blowing a gale, no-one can hear a thing that’s going on’.

“I couldn’t even shout