IRVINE Meadow manager Kevin Deeney was left reeling as his side were denied what looked to be a clear penalty in Saturday's loss to Beith.

But he refused to blame the decision for his sides 4-0 loss to the reigning WoSFL Premier Division champions on Saturday.

The call came with the match still poised at 1-0, only minutes after Carlo Monti gave The Might the lead with a cross which crept in at the back post.

It was his side's reaction after the goal that disappointed Deeney, as a Ciaran Diver double before half-time, and late Ryan Monan strike handed Beith a comfortable victory.

“Beith did everything better than us," Deeney told the Times.

"When we went one behind we just kind of lost our shape and lost our focus and when we done that we got picked off for fun.

“The boys have got to reset and get back to what we were doing well.

“I thought we started quite well, and then we lost that goal.

“If we could weather that storm and get in at half time, I know we’re going downhill the second half, but when you’re three nil down it’s a mountain to climb.”

It was a goal which frustrated the Medda boss, especially after losing a similar goal against Troon only a week prior.

He commented: “The first goal, it’s been a few times it’s happened to us now, we’re just not closing down guys quick enough.

“We can’t allow players to put balls into our box like that – it’s a pure crappy goal to lose, it’s a cross that’s went straight in.

“I would like to say it’s a bit of luck, but it’s happened to us twice now this season, it’s not luck, we’re just not getting out quick enough and that’s what we’ve got to deal with.”

It was a penalty decision, or lack of, shortly after this which left Deeney frustrated - though he refused to blame the call for his sides heavy defeat.

As Medda put the ball into the Beith box, the ball appeared to strike the hand of Conner McGlinchey, though no penalty was given.

Irvine Times: A still image showing the 'handball'.A still image showing the 'handball'. (Image: Irvine Meadow XI)

Deeney said: “It’s a penalty, it’s frustrating, it’s three games in a row now where really big decisions have not gone for us at crucial times in the game.

“I’m not going to moan about the penalty at this stage, because we weren’t good enough and we’ve got to respond.

“I don’t want to get too focussed on the penalty decision , I’ve got to solve some of the problems we’ve got. We’re just not seeing things through, it’s frustrating.

“But there has been three massive decisions have went against us and we’re now sitting with one point out of nine – that’s not fair.

“We shouldn’t be relying on getting breaks – we need to be like, we’ve not got it, we need to deal with it. We just didn’t deal with it."

The manager says he does hope that decisions begin to go Medda's way soon.

Deeney added: “It’s really hard because I feel when we make a mistake we’re getting punished for it and referees have made howlers against us in three games and there’s no punishment here – it’s really costing us.

“People tell me these things even themselves out, so I’m hoping we get a run of right good decisions.”

Though he won't be relying on calls, and is now looking to regroup with his players ahead of Saturday's match at home to Arthurlie.

The manager said: “We need to get basics, we haven’t been that far off it but today we were.

“The other two games we weren’t, it was fine margins, whereas today we were miles away.

“I feel we played into Beith’s hands today, they’re good and they didn’t give us a minutes peace but we’re our own worst enemy.

“It’s these stupid mistakes we’ve got to cut out, it’s dead easy to sort but we’ve still got to go sort it.”