Berwick Rangers boss Kevin Haynes angry after 'ridiculous decision' costs Rangers three points
Berwick Rangers paid the penalty against Lowland League title chasers Clydebank – not once, but twice.
The Borderers went ahead at Shielfield thanks to a deflected own goal from Nicky Low, but the Bankies hit back soon after when Nicky Little was successful from the spot after a soft-looking decision.
Neil McLaughlin kept his cool to win it with 15 minutes to go as he rolled into the net with another effort from 12 yards, but the penalty award proved another really contentious one.
“We lost the game on what I think is a ridiculous decision,” boss Kevin Haynes told BRTV.
“There’s probably one person in the stadium thinks it’s a penalty and unfortunately it was the man in the middle with the whistle. That’s really irritating.”
Haynes was left frustrated by the defeat after what he felt wasn’t a great game that had nothing between the two sides.
“I think a draw would have been a very fair result with two teams that never really created much,” he continued.
“We had to deal with their physicality – they’re a big, physical side and they’re experienced. But it was probably a poor game.”
Rangers picked up two injuries during the past week with Harry Wright and Struan Mair picking up knocks in training, while Mark McConnell and Micky Mbewe were both injured in the game against Clydebank.
“Sparky is away to hospital with a suspected broken hand and we’ll need to wait and see what the extent of the injury is to Michael’s ankle, but that will be our third ankle injury this week, all through contact,” said Haynes.
“We’re on a bit of a low with the injury front and it seems like we’ve just nursed them all season.”
Berwick take on Albion Rovers at Shielfield this Saturday and the boss said he’s expecting a similar kind of game.
“The pitch has got a lot of recovering to do. There’s been a bit drizzle and the pitch is soft and not conducive for playing football,” he said.
“We need to be much improved from when we played them earlier in the season. That was probably one of our poorest performances of the season, so we’ve got to right that wrong.”