St Cuthbert Wanderers boss claims game with Lochmaben wasn't dirty after four red cards

St Cuthbert Wanderers boss Ian Clark claims the dramatic events of Saturday’s controversial encounter with Lochmaben probably looks “a lot worse on paper” after four players were sent off.

Both sides finished with nine men, three of the red cards coming after the award of a late penalty to Saints – with further clashes as the dismissed players headed for the tunnel and changing rooms.

The game between the two Utility Hut South of Scotland League strugglers ended in a 1-1 draw after the spot-kick was saved.

Clark said: “I think it looks a lot worse on paper than it actually was.

“People will think we kicked lumps out of each other but we didn’t. There was tension and tackles going in but nothing overly aggressive.

“I have no complaints with the referee, I think he handled it pretty well. He got decisions wrong but when you look at it from a neutral perspective, I can understand why he’s made a decision.

“I understood our first sending off once he explained it to me. Our second was a yellow card following the melee, then there’s what happens in the changing room.

“It spills over a bit and it’s a credit to the ref how he dealt with it and a credit to the Lochmaben committee and staff that we shook hands and wished them well – there were no afters.”

Idrissa Sarr, who Saints have brought in on loan from Tweedmouth Rangers, gave the visitors an early lead which was cancelled out by Dylan Crawford.

The Saints goalie was dismissed in the second half with Owen Hall taking over in nets but they were handed a late penalty, with Lochmaben reduced to 10 men in the process.

As tempers flared, Saints had Efe Osaretin dismissed and Lochmaben were also reduced to nine men, with more drama as the players headed for