Shotts boss: Terrible ref call cost us at the death against Blantyre Vics

Shotts Bon Accord boss John McKeown insists a “terrible” refereeing decision in Saturday’s defeat to Blantyre Victoria kept his side in the West of Scotland First Division relegation zone.

The Hannah Park side looked to be on course for a precious point that would have lifted them out of the bottom three, but two goals in the final three minutes from Vics inflicted their 12th defeat of the season.

McKeown’s men were already struggling with Chris Meikle, Adam Bryson, Craig Crawford, Kamil Krol and Dean Sutherland all missing due to a combination of injuries, unavailability and suspension.

And they were left reeling when referee Michael McCart didn’t give a foul for a challenge on Kyle Richford and Vics went up the park to break the deadlock through Dale Jones, who then clinched the win from the penalty spot in the 90th minute.

Gutted gaffer McKeown said: “It looked like it was going to end 0-0 but the referee has had a bit of a shocker.

“Kyle Richford got fouled from behind. It was blatant for everyone to see and even the player who did it said to me after the game he couldn’t believe the referee didn’t give a foul.

“The referee doesn’t give it, they break up the park and then they score from that situation, so it is a big moment in the game.

“In terms of the game, we didn’t create enough to win it. I thought it had draw written all over it until that decision by the ref.

“A terrible decision has undone us and then they break up the park and get a penalty - which was a stonewaller - when we were chasing the game.

“It was also a case of having too many players missing in important positions. We had no centre-halves due to injuries and unavailability so we were at the bare bones defensively.

“But it is no excuse for the