Crossgates: Primrose go out of South Challenge Cup at Thorn Athletic

PRIMROSE boss Alan Campbell was left to rue refereeing decisions he felt went against his side as two penalties in the final four minutes sent them out of the South Challenge Cup.

The visitors were two goals to the good at the interval at Thorn Athletic, thanks to Scott Hynd's well-executed free-kick, and a fine team goal from Lyle Kellichan, and thereafter also had a goal disallowed.

The Johnstone-based home team got a goal back from Lewis Steele, before a pair of spot-kicks from Jamie Prete turned the tie on its head and sent Crossgates out.

Campbell felt there was "minimum contact" for the first, but branded the second a "total nonsense" following what he described as a "coming together" between two players.

"We played ever so well in the first half," he said.

"We were comfortable and could have had a third or a fourth goal. In the second half there was so much going on, much of it out of our control.

"We had a goal chopped off for what only the referee knows. I think he said it was for a push, but nobody else inside the ground saw it, and I thought they were fortunate not to have a man sent off - one for denying a goalscoring opportunity, and one for a reckless challenge.

There was frustration for the Crossgates coaching team on Saturday, (Image: David Wardle.)

"You have to give them credit. They're a good side, and they came back into it, but I was sitting with four minutes to go thinking we'll see it out. If anything, I thought we would go on and get a third.

"They got a penalty, where there was minimal contact, and then the referee gave another which was a total nonsense penalty. It was a coming together with two boys challenging for the ball.

"We're nine games into the season, and the referees have been really good, but there were some strange things going on."

He added: "We felt pretty hard done by. We big support through on the bus, so I was disappointed for them.

"We're scoring goals, we're creating chances, but defensively we can sharpen up a bit.

"We only put the squad together in the summer, so we knew there would be bumps in the road, but hopefully they don't dwell on it too much."

Stirling University 2 Oakley United 1, East of Scotland League, Second Division

PETER GOLDIE has urged his Oakley United players to pick themselves up ahead of their home clash with Dalkeith Thistle after they fell to a first league loss of the season.

The Blairwood Park outfit saw their unbeaten start in the Second Division come to an end at at Ochilview against the students.

Their only setback this season prior to this match at Ochilview came at Wishaw in the first round of the South Challenge Cup, where they lost on penalties, and they were looking good for another positive outcome when Ryan Cowie gave them an early lead.

However, despite having opportunities to put the match to bed, Oakley conceded an equaliser in the second half, before Stirling grabbed a late winner.

"Saturday wasn't our best performance to be fair," Goldie said.

"First half, we were well in control of the game. We scored early doors through Ryan Cowie, and we then squandered several chances to put the game to bed.

Peter Goldie watched his Oakley United side fall to their first league defeat of the season on Saturday. (Image: David Wardle.)

"Second half we started well and, again, should have been out of sight, with our best chance coming from Ryan Yapoudjian, but his shot came back out off the inside of the post.

"Stirling then made a few changes, and scored quickly after against the run of play, which seemed to take the wind out of us. We pushed for a winner late on and again got caught out defensively, with the Stirling University forward finding space inside the box to give them the win.

"It was a disappointing performance overall, however, we need to pick ourselves up as we have a few big games coming up in the next week or two. Hopefully we can bounce straight back to winning ways this Saturday."

Saturday's fixtures (kick-offs 2.30pm): East of Scotland League, First Division: Crossgates Primrose v Arniston Rangers, Edinburgh South v Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts. Second Division: Oakley United v Dalkeith Thistle.