Published: Thursday, 24th April, 2008 10:45
Juniors bosses in ref fury
By Sports editor, Simon Harris
Comments (0)
Print Article
HEADS UP: Action from the game between Kelty (maroon shirts) and Whitburn.
Pic by: Dunfermline Press
FED-UP Kelty boss Stevie Leighton says the Jambos are getting a raw deal from refs.
Leighton was fuming after two controversial decisions in the space of five stormy second-half minutes changed the course of their Super League game against title contenders Whitburn on Saturday.
Hearts, who are six points above the relegation trapdoor with a game in hand, took the lead just before half-time when Graeme Findlay got the final touch to a corner flicked on by Tom Courts.
But the game was stood on its head on the hour mark when the referee awarded what Leighton considered to be a soft penalty.
Whitburn equalised and, five minutes later, Kelty’s Conrad Courts was sent off for his second booking.
With a man advantage the visitors went 3-1 up before Ian Mauchlan pulled one back to make the final score 3-2.
The damage was already done, however, leaving Leighton incensed, particularly after Kelty conceded a controversial late winner away to Lochee United in their last outing.
“I’m really disappointed with two decisions that have cost us three points,” Leighton blasted.
“It’s a concern that big decisions have gone against us in the last two league games.
“We’re not too far from the relegation zone and as I said afterwards to the referee, performances like that could relegate people.
“My job and that of Craig Smart could be judged on staying in the Super League. It doesn’t matter how well we did last year, winning promotion and getting to the Scottish Cup final, we’ve got to be looking to progress.
“Whitburn were very streetwise and we need to learn from the little things they did to grind out the three points.”
Striker Tam McGeorge should be available to play some part in the cup game against Bankfoot this weekend but Kelty will be without centre half Tom Courts, who has been chosen to captain Scotland juniors.
“We’ve had players capped by Scotland in the past, such as Billy Spence, Andy Tod and John Allison but we’ve never had one as captain and it’s good for the club,” Leighton said.
Leighton remained bullish that Kelty had enough to remain in the Super League, with home games against Bonnyrigg, Bathgate and Linlithgow still to come.
“We’ve won five out of our eight home games this season which is better than anyone below us. I am very confident we will be playing in the Super League next year,” he said.
Also angry with the officials was Oakley boss Willie Newbigging, who saw his side’s relegation from the Super League all but confirmed with a 4-0 home defeat to Linlithgow Rose.
Newbigging was seething after two Linlithgow goals were allowed to stand despite strong suspicions of offside.
“There’s nothing we could do about the first goal and the second was poor defending but the goals that took the score from 2-0 to 4-0 were really embarrassing,” he fumed.
“There’s nothing we can do about it. Such is life. We’ve no luck at all. When you’re down at the bottom of the league things don’t go your way and when you’re top all these wee breaks go for you.
“It’s part and parcel of the game but it’s frustrating. I’ve still got five or six boys who are Super League players and I feel for them, I really do.
“But we will keep plodding on until it’s mathematically impossible for us to stay up.”
Rosyth’s ‘Great Escape’ hopes in the Premier League got off to a bad start when they were beaten 3-0 at home by fifth-bottom Penicuik on Saturday.
Crossgates have conceded 11 goals in two games after Saturday’s 6-2 defeat at Ballingry was followed by a 5-0 thrashing at Lochgelly Albert on Monday night.
Steelend conceded a goal in the last minute of injury time to go out of the Maloco + associates Cup on Saturday to Scone Thistle but were beaten 8-0 by Ballingry Rovers on Tuesday night.
Saturday’s fixtures: Whyte & Mackay East Super League – Tayport v Oakley. Maloco + associates Cup, second round – Dundonald Bluebell v Rosyth Recreation, Kelty Hearts v Bankfoot Athletic. Whyte & Mackay East Central League – Luncarty v Crossgates Primrose, Steelend Victoria v Scone Thistle. (Kick-offs 2.30pm).
Del.icio.us
Digg
Facebook
Reddit
Stumbleupon
Further Details
Pars rule out standing at East End Park