
Cove Rangers secured a 3-2 win to progress to the Aberdeenshire Cup final – after a decision that left Turriff assistant Bobby Beckwith baffled.
Turra thought they scored only to see referee Alex Shepherd rule the goal out in controversial circumstances.
Nick Gray’s second-half strike was disallowed for offside even though the linesman didn’t raise his flag.
Beckwith was disappointed with the call and believes even the Cove players assumed it was a goal.
He said: “The decision for the goal that was ruled out, only the referee has seen that.
“None of their players argued, the centre-half didn’t appeal, the goalkeeper thought it was a goal, no one protested.
“Referees have a difficult job but when he looks back on it, he might realise he’s got that one wrong.
“But we’ve told the players, we cost ourselves with the goals we lost.”
Turriff took the lead after 12 minutes when GRAY lashed the ball in from close range after a David Booth corner.
But the visitors drew level just before the break as Jonny Smith’s cross was steered in by the head of Connor SCULLY.
The winger turned provider on 47 minutes, feeding a low ball in which was met by SMITH.
And they made it 3-1 when Stuart WALKER slammed an inviting cross beyond Kevin Main.
The controversial incident occurred on 74 minutes after Gray thought he had his second goal.
The official awarded a free-kick despite the linesman not flagging for either an offside or foul.
Turriff boss Ross Jack and the home fans were incensed but GRAY did get his second with five minutes left to set up a big finish.
Cove boss John Sheran was “delighted” with the result as his side will face Buckie Thistle in the final.
He said: “We played really well and once we lost the goal, we settled down and played some good football. So we’re very pleased and we scored some good goals.
“When you are playing the top teams like Turriff, you know it’s going to be tight and it takes a good performance to get the win.
“We are just delighted to be into the final.”
Beckwith believed the Turriff team were unlucky to lose.
He said: “I don’t think we deserved that. I thought we were the better team in the first half and took the game to them.
“We knew we could get goals but we’ve made three mistakes. The players just switched off.
“Cove just had that little bit more bite than us.”

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