GLENAFTON’S defeat to Cumnock means that it looks like they will finish the season empty-handed.

It was a frustrating afternoon in more ways than one for manager Craig McEwan.

He said: “We need to defend better for the goal as it was always going to be one of those games where a mistake or something similar was going to win the game.

“So, from that point of view, we need to be better. It probably sums up our season when we have huffed and puffed and not really reached the heights of last season.

“But I am conscious not to keep speaking about last season as it has been and gone but it doesn’t help when — and I am choosing my words carefully — there is no consistency from the man who is meant to be controlling the game.”

McEwan was referring to match official, Ross Hardie, who angered the home side and their fans with several of his decisions.

“Unfortunately there are a lot of these guys being rushed through and, just like players, some will work and others will not, but it is very frustrating.

“Some of the inconsistencies make it hard to take the result, as it was a cup tie and we wanted to go through,” McEwan added.

Despite his comments on the referee, he conceded that the team never performed as well as they have recently.

“We haven’t reached the standards of how we played against Hurlford last Wednesday, albeit was a draw but we were excellent and at Beith last Saturday as well.

“However, we take our medicine and move on while trying to finish as high up the league as possible — for us, that has to be our main aim just now.

“Then we will take momentum into pre-season, regroup and start again,” he said.