Shotts boss brands cup display "unforgivable" despite winning penalty shootout against nine-man Bo'ness

Shotts boss John McKeown branded his side’s display against nine-man Bo’ness Athletic “unforgivable” after they needed extra-time and penalties to progress in the South Challenge Cup.

A 4-3 shootout win saw Shotts reach round three, but they had to fight tooth and nail against the East of Scotland League outfit at Hannah Park.

The Bonny fell behind early on to a Ryan Robertson strike before levelling things up by half-time through new signing Danny Burns.

A topsy-turvy tussle continued after the break as the hosts took the lead through Harry Kent, only for 10-man Athletic to equalise in 85 minutes through Matty Meechin to force extra-time.

Jack Gordon’s thumping strike early in extra-time gave Shotts the advantage once again and when Athletic had a second player sent off moments later, it looked like McKeown’s men had it the bag.

However, Callum MacDonald headed home unmarked two minutes from the end to give the nine men a seemingly unlikely shot at glory in a penalty shootout.

Shotts prevailed 4-3 in the shootout after Athletic saw their last spot-kick crash off the crossbar, but McKeown is livid with the showing from his West of Scotland First Division joint-leaders.

He said: “It was very muted at the end. It’s not us being arrogant and thinking we should be blowing teams away because they are a very good side.

“But when they are down to 10 men, they have players dropping all over the place with cramp and stuff because they are putting so much into it, we need to be better.

“For us to go ahead at the start of extra-time when they are down to nine men, and then become really naive and stop passing the ball, allowing them to score with a free header, is just unforgivable.

“It was really sloppy from us and the decision