Mcginley saves EK as first leg ends goalless
East Kilbride and Cowdenbeath both had opportunities to get their noses in front in the Pyramid Playoff but the final is still looking for its first goal.
The Lowland League champions were the better side at their K-park home and, as they began to dominate, Joao Vitoria sent Sean Winter clear eight minutes from the break, only to see Kyle Miller kick the ball off the line after Jamie Sneddon had got a hand to Winter’s flicked effort.
Two penalty decisions dominated the second half. The hosts’ Adam Strachan was booked for simulation after a challenge by Jamie Pyper and referee Gavin Duncan pointed to the spot after an assistant spotted a handball by home defender Fabio Capuano three minutes from time. Miller went from hero to villain as his effort was saved by Matthew Mcginley.
The Central Park player said: “I am absolutely gutted as I had the chance to put us ahead. We should beat them back at our place but to have the chance to win it right at the very end and not do it is annoying.”
Mcginley said: “It was a big save as it would have been a different game next week if it had finished at 1-0.”
Home manager Martin Lachlan said: “It was really frustrating that the assistant chose not to get involved in a number of incidents and then got involved in that one.”
Cowdenbeath manager Gary Locke added: “It will be tough next weekend but we know we have to win to stay in senior football.”