BLANTYRE VICS have enjoyed the most incredible season - and they still have the Central League Cup final to look forward to this Thursday.

But even that couldn't stop gaffer Davie Greig feeling huge disappointment at the manner of his side's defeat against Pollok at Newlandsfield.

In the build-up to the match he had insisted his men had been looking forward to taking on the Junior big boys in their own backyard.

Some of his players hadn't played at Newlandsfield before and, he said, they couldn't wait to grace one of the the game's best surfaces.

But while the Vics players didn't disgrace themselves, Greig admitted he was furious with referee Grant Irvine for awarding a second-half penalty to Pollok.

He reckons it was the game's major turning point - and gave a huge advantage to the hosts.

He said: "Pollok's penalty was definitely a key point in the game, there is no doubt about that - and it was never a penalty.

"The referee told me it was a trip, but it was our player who fell and landed on his side on top of the ball. It was a shocking decision, and it cost us big time.

"They then gave the Pollok number seven the man-of-the-match award, and while he had a good game, everyone knows their goalkeeper was the best player on the park by a mile.

"For me, that tells everybody the story of the game. I thought we were excellent in the second half. We were the better team and had them penned in and looked the likeliest to score.

"In the end, Pollok got the penalty and then scored a third, and it looks like they've run away with it, but it was closer than the score suggests."

But despite feeling a great sense of injustice, Greig - who has worked wonders at Vics in just over two years in charge at Castle Park - was quick to pay tribute to his opposite number, and good friend, Tony McInally.

He said: "Pollok have had a good season and that's down to Tony, his coaches and the players. They played well. It was a good game and they are the winners so a big congratulations to Tony and his lads."

Greig added: "I should also congratulate my own players because they have had a remarkable season.

"We won the Central District First Division, our second championship on the spin, and have also reached three finals.

"We have a final on Thursday and it would be nice to make up for the hurt of losing the 'Evening Times'."