Rutherglen Glencairn boss Joe Pryce insists Blantyre Victoria’s late penalty should never have been given – but insists that wasn’t what cost them all three points against the league’s bottom side.
In an incredibly tight West of Scotland First Division where Renfrew, Petershill, Kilwinning Rangers and St Roch’s all sit joint-top on 30 points, Glens were 15 minutes away from going top of the pile before battling Vics fought back in the second half to take a point.
Glens were 3-1 up after 66 minutes thanks to goals from Scott Jarvie, Allan Woodhouse and Jack McIlveen, but Vics netted twice in four minutes to level the game going into the final 10 minutes.
With three minutes remaining Glens were given a spot-kick which Jarvie converted to put them on course for victory, but in the second minute of stoppage time a controversial penalty for Vics was converted by Mark Hansen to frustrate Glens.
But Pryce said: “It is never a penalty and everybody could see that it wasn’t, but it should never have come to that anyway. We should have had the game done and dusted long before that.
“Our penalty is difficult to tell because we are on the opposite side, but our lads tell us it’s a penalty, there was a kick to the back.
“But for their penalty, you can see that the referee was looking to even things up.
“I’m just really disappointed and frustrated at the way we defended in the last half hour. To concede four goals at home in any game is just really poor.
“Blantyre showed great fight and great spirit, they never gave up, but we have to be so much better than that if we want to achieve anything this season.”
While his squad’s inconsistency during this campaign has proved frustrating, Pryce admits he will likely have to work with what he has and doesn’t envisage any signings to strengthen their cause.
He added: “It is always difficult to get players in. The players we want to get in are already signed up at other teams and we don’t have the finances to go and buy anyone, but we will keep looking.
“If there is anyone who is going to strengthen us, then we will have a look at it and take it if it suits us.”
Next up for Glencairn is a trip to face fifth-place Arthurlie on Saturday. Kick-off at Dunterlie Park is 2pm.