BOSSES at a North Ayrshire amateur football club have blasted the "cruel" manner of a weekend defeat after their league title challenge was settled in bizarre circumstances.
Kilbride Thistle AFC, competing in the Ayrshire AFA Division One, slammed officials for failing to give what appeared to be a perfectly legitimate goal from the penalty spot against Forehill AFC on Saturday.
The West Kilbride-based side, who play their home games in Kilwinning, went into the match still in with a chance of overtaking their South Ayrshire opponents at the top of the standings.
With three matches remaining of the season before the May 9 tie, and two fixtures in hand over Forehill, as well as a superior goal difference, Kilbride Thistle were just five points behind the leaders, who concluded their campaign at the weekend.
However, they fell to a 1-0 defeat at the Queen Margaret Academy in Ayr, meaning they can no longer catch the table-toppers, who wrapped up the title amid major controversy.
A first half spot kick for the visitors looked as though it had been dispatched into the corner of the net - only for the referee to rule that it had hit the post and wave for play to continue.
A statement from Kilbride Thistle, shared on social media, said: "We try our best to not complain or make things public but today was, which we will all agree, beyond egregious.
"A league title deciding game and we go up 1-0 after a fairly cagey start for both teams.
"However, the referee has decided, despite looking straight at the goal, to not give a goal and the game goes on to end in a 0-1 defeat.
"Fair play to Forehill Amateur Football Club, who have battled all year, as have our boys. Congratulations on a league title boys, well done.
"What a cruel way to decide league champions. Every single person there baffled but a referee 15 yards away not.
"We have sent this video footage to the Ayrshire committee, which will likely be ignored and we will have to move on to finish the season after nine months of hard work.
"The boys deserve better but what can you do? We would have gladly lost the game had it been a fair contest but unfortunately not to be."
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