Albion Rovers boss Sandy Clark was disappointed that his side didn’t get closer to Lowland League leaders East Kilbride on Saturday, but reckons the game hinged on a crucial flashpoint.
Clark reckons referee Gary Hanvidge was wrong to only flash a yellow card at an East Kilbride defender after Peter Mendy was pulled down as he bore down on goal.
East Kilbride ran out 2-1 winners at K-Park, as first-half strikes from Jamie Hamilton and Scott Ferguson had them home and dry by the interval, though a late Sean Fagan own-goal halved the deficit.
Clark reckons it could have been quite a different game, and said: “It was a funny game.
“East Kilbride are without a doubt the best team in the league, with the best players.
“They played really well in the first half, and probably deserved to be 2-0 up.
“We did better in the second half, got a lot closer to them, had more chances in the game, and a lot came on a crucial decision.
“We’ve got a one-on-one, the ref made a mistake. For me, it was a red card, a goal-scoring opportunity, the referee didn’t, and that was a huge one for me.
“Everybody in the ground expected a red card, and we didn’t get that. Would that have changed the game – you never know.
“Peter Mendy is quick when he’s through on goal, he might have scored, might have missed, and we might not have won the game anyway.
“But it was a huge turning point in the game.
“We worked well enough to get the goal near the end, but it wasn’t quite enough.
“There were lots of good things in it, but lots that we need to improve on.”
The venue is reversed this Saturday, as Kilby travel to Cliftonhill, and Clark hopes for better from his side.
He said: “It’s a different game next week, on a different surface, which means it’s a different way of playing.
“We have to learn from Saturday, look at the conditions, and try to pick the right team that gives you the best opportunity of getting three points.
“I think we showed that we’re capable.
“We’re not a million miles off them, but we will need to play just that little bit better, and hope they don’t play just as well.”
Kick-off on Saturday is 3pm.