Angry Sheran claims officials won the game for Cowdenbeath

Cove Rangers manager John Sheran claimed his side felt “cheated” after their 3-2 defeat by Cowdenbeath in the SPFL pyramid play-offs.

The Highland League champions missed out on promotion to League 2 after a controversial encounter at Central Park with three Cove players sent off in injury time.

Sheran said: “It was nothing to do with football today, the people who won that game for Cowdenbeath were the officials.

“At the third goal, our goalkeeper Stuart McKenzie was assaulted in a rugby tackle when trying to get back to goal by a player off the ball. How that wasn’t a free kick I’ll never know.

“We have four officials who are great at telling you to sit down in your box but they can’t even spot a rugby tackle in the middle of the pitch – I think they should all hang their heads in shame.

“After Stuart cleared the ball their guy took him out and the other player puts it in the net. It just should not happen – it is an absolute disgrace. We are absolutely gutted. I am choosing my words carefully here – we feel cheated by the performance of the officials.

“I’m not saying they’re cheats, I’m saying we feel cheated by their performance. All you are wanting is a fair crack of the whip.

“I think other Highland League teams have experienced it in the past, the rules seem to be different for the teams down here. Everybody is tremendously frustrated. It is an absolute joke.”