JOHN Potter felt his Kelty Hearts team were denied a "stonewall" penalty kick before Falkirk’s late comeback saw the hosts suffer a last-minute defeat.

Kelty were the better side in the first half and deservedly led through Kallum Higginbotham, but missed opportunities and claims for a penalty for a foul on Alfredo Agyeman were turned down as the half progressed.

A motivated Falkirk emerged after the interval and substitutes Jordan Allan and Rumarn Burrell both capitalised on poor defending which ended in Kelty facing a 2-1 loss at New Central Park.

Potter told the Press post-match that although he was disappointed for his players, he felt Falkirk were stronger in the second-half and his own side’s failure to grab a key second goal in the first period was decisive.

He said: "I thought first half we were really good and we deserved to go in front. We had some really good chances and we were the better team.

"Second half I thought we didn't start well and they started to dominate with the ball. They'll do that at times because they are a good football team with good players.

"The goals we lose are really disappointing; one from a corner and the other from a long free-kick from the halfway line and the second phase of that after we didn’t clear."

After Higginbotham’s opener, striker Nathan Austin had a great chance to double the lead but his unmarked header was wayward.

Austin then set up Agyeman in the box but he was then tripped by Blaine Rowe before he could shoot.

Kelty's players screamed for a penalty but those screams fell on deaf ears as Mike Roncone, who just moments earlier failed to stop play for a potential head knock on Falkirk defender Brad McKay during an aerial duel with Austin, brought back the play to address McKay’s condition.

Commenting on both decisions, Kelty’s boss said: “It's a stonewall penalty kick.

“If we get that and we score it, we're two goals up in the game.

"If he's felt sorry for a decision he didn't make earlier in the game, then it's his fault.

"Two wrongs don't make a right.

"He either stops the game initially or he then gives the penalty. He does neither.”

Before the game was levelled and later lost, Potter had to withdraw Austin for a knock, which was set to be assessed following the result.

It leaves his forward-line light in numbers, and he says he is hopeful of strengthening his squad ahead of their next match at home to Queen of the South on Saturday, February 18.

"We'd like to bring another one or two in so hopefully we can try and do that before then,” he said.

"I think we're okay with midfielders, but I still think we need more at the top end of the pitch; whether that be wide or another striker. A little bit of cover defensively as well.

"We're looking for good players who can come in and do a good job for us and we're looking at ways of strengthening the squad."