East Kilbride boss Mick Kennedy says missed chances killed their dreams

East Kilbride boss Mick Kennedy says missed opportunities handed Stranraer a lifeline over a two-legged Pyramid play-off final that his side should have won.

The Blues won 5-3 on aggregate following a 3-1 win at Stair Park this afternoon, and a 2-2 draw at K-Park last Saturday.

Captain Grant Gallagher’s rocket opener for Stranraer was cancelled out by Keir Samson’s 77th-minute strike, forcing extra-time.

But Kilby missed a number of chances and Craig Ross and Aiden Gilmartin struck late on to win the tie for Stranraer, keeping them in League Two.

Kennedy pointed to those opportunities over both legs, and said they simply should have made more of them.

He told the club’s website: “The first half there was nothing much in it, the boy Gallagher scores an unbelievable strike.

“In the second half we came out and Stranraer were the better side for the first 15-20 minutes.

“We changed our shape and from them we controlled the game right through extra-time.

“It was very similar to the same theme as last week, but at 1-1 the sheer number of opportunities that we missed is utterly staggering, and ultimately it catches you out in the end.

“No disrespect, but Stranraer looked dead on the feet in extra-time but when you keep missing those opportunities you’re giving people a lifeline, giving them a bit of belief, and ultimately they score late on and go through.

“But you can’t miss the sheer number of chances that we missed today, and it was similar to last week.

“On the back of the number of clear-cut opportunities we’ve created today – and we’re talking two or three yards out at times – we’ve just not taken them.

“We look at both games, we should have won of them comfortably, but we’ve not done it, we’ve fell short, and that’s it.”

Kilby clash with Kirkintilloch Rob Roy in the South Challenge Cup final at Broadwood Stadium in Cumbernauld next Sunday, but Kennedy says that’s no consolation.

“The club’s aspiration was to get into League Two and I think, with the group we’ve got, that we should have done that.

“I think when you look at it over the piece, over the two games, we should have done that, but scoring goals is part of football.

“But we’ll get them in this week, prepare, and get ready for the cup final next Sunday.”

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