Cobras boss Paul Davies bites back at referee after Carluke FC defeat

But he couldn’t plan for refereeing decisions costing the Cobras in Saturday’s 5-2 home defeat by Port Glasgow Celtic.

Boss Davies was able to call on a bigger squad for the clash with the league leaders.

But he saw his Strathclyde Saturday Morning Championship A side reduced to nine men when David Ross and Jordan Miller both saw red.

Then after two-goal hero Adam Robertson saw another strike chopped off, Port Glasgow were awarded a controversial goal and a disputed penalty.

Davies said: “All-round disappointment would sum up our performance against Port Glasgow.

“We lost two men to red cards and it was an uphill struggle against a team that’s at the top of the league.

“Earlier this week I’d been standing outside Hampden for a meeting to discuss avenues to progress the club.

“It was about putting in place things we set out to do to make our club stronger.

“So I was feeling upbeat and positive going into the game. Our new players had slotted in well.

“After our win the week before and virtually a full squad to pick from I was optimistic.

“Then the day came and it was a sore one to take.

“The refereeing decisions were again, in my opinion, nothing short of disgraceful and they ultimately spoiled the game. Referees have a hard job and without them the game doesn’t function.

“I qualified as a referee myself a number of years ago so I know what it’s like to be in their position.

“But a perfectly good goal was chopped off for offside when young Adam was clearly onside.

“A goal was given to the opposition when it was clearly offside.

“How a penalty can be awarded for handball when the player kicked the ball off our centre-back’s arm is beyond me.

“They were, in my opinion, three clear decisions which were not 50/50 and ones referees should know.”