YOKER Athletic manager Gordon Robertson admits his team's last-gasp cup heartbreak against Kilbirnie Ladeside on Saturday was one of the worst feelings he has experienced in football.
The Whe Ho took a half-time lead in the Scottish Junior Cup second-round tie at Valefield Park against their First Division opponents after a peach from Dean Farmer, but the hosts hit back after the break to lead 2-1.
Corey Pearson brought the visitors level and it looked as if the game was headed for penalties until an added-time winner from Ladeside left Yoker heartbroken.
Robbo feels his side done more than enough to find themselves in the hat for the third round and revealed the Yoker dressing room was feeling low at full-time.
Speaking to the Post, he said: “I thought we were excellent throughout the game. We were going there determined to win because we felt we were good enough to go and do that.
“Overall it was a brilliant performance from the players and we stood up to everything they had to offer and scored two terrific goals ourselves.
“Going 2-1 down after doing so well was a blow but we came back which was really impressive with a brilliant header from Corey.
“It looked as if we would be going for penalties, or we might even have nicked it, but we got hit with a sucker punch towards the end.
“I didn’t know what to say after the game to the players because they had put so much into the game in terms of quality, effort, commitment, and to go out of the cup is a real blow.
“I’ve been involved in football for a long time and I can say it’s one of the worst post-match feelings I have had because we played so well and on performance level, we should have been through to the next round but that’s the way it goes sometimes and we have to deal with it.
“We just need to get on with it – we looked a good team and we need to make sure we get back to winning games in the league.”
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It’s back to league business for Yoker this weekend as they look to return to winning ways after losing back-to-back fixtures because of Saturday’s cup tie.
A win could see Robbo’s side move into the top-five of the division and the Whe Ho boss has his sights set on three points.
He said: “St Anthony’s is a place we have done well at in the past so we need to take the positives from Saturday into that game and do our best to get three points.
“If we can do that there’s a chance we can climb a few places in the table.”
Kick-off at McKenna Park is at 2:00pm.
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