Stranraer were 'unlucky' admits East Kilbride boss, as side see big calls go their way in win

Daily Record

a day ago

Mick Kennedy was happy to get out with a 3-1 win after his side were given a real run for their money
East Kilbride boss Mick Kennedy admits Stranraer were unlucky not to take something off his side after a dramatic finish in a 3-1 defeat.
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In a game that was soured by alleged racist abuse towards EK's Joao Balde, the sides fought out an entertaining battle in the League Two clash and the Blues will feel hard done by after seeing a soft penalty awarded against them and a goal chalked off for a foul on Kilby goalkeeper Freddie Owens in the first half.
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Stranraer fought back after the break to cancel out John Robertson's penalty opener and it looked like they might take a point.
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However, Rhys Breen blasted home inside the box nine minutes from time before Balde's spectacular overhead kick sealed the points.
In the aftermath of that, Balde was booked and allegedly verbally abused, before then seeing red for a second bookable offence in stoppage time.
And Kennedy, whose side are up to third in the table, admitted: "We had 70 per cent possession in the game but we've got to be better in possession because we were slack at times today.
"I thought Stranraer were unlucky. They looked really dangerous on the break and a couple of decisions went against them, to be honest. I thought they were genuinely unfortunate.
"Their boy [Corey] O'Donnell has missed what you would classify as two sitters and they will feel a bit disappointed to go in at half-time 1-0 down.
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"I thought the penalty we got was a bit contentious as well. It just looked like a coming together, rather than a foul, so I thought Stranraer were a bit unlucky.
"Every team we play this season will sit in against us this season, I don't expect anyone to have a go, but we've got to do better.
"It is three points so we take it and move on."
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EK were up against THREE former bosses in the Stranraer dugout, with boss Chris Aitken joined by brother Stevie and Martin Fellowes.
Chris was left to rue some big missed opportunities as his side remain pointless after three games.
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And he said: "We've had major chances to go and win a couple of games. When you get chances against a team of this quality, you need to take them.
"It is tough to take because we know how good a team they are, but my team relished the contest. We could have scored five or six and there would have been no complaints and Mick said that to me after the game. We've got to get a win on the board and it must happen next week.
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"Their penalty isn't a penalty. We've watched it back. To have two big calls in the first half go against us is tough.
"The linesman is 50 yards away, there are 19 bodies in the way and he says their goalie got blocked. That is some vision if he sees that.
"But we can't feel sorry for ourselves, the next game is massive."