Yoker Athletic boss Gordon Robertson couldn’t hide his pride despite his troops losing out to Auchinleck Talbot in Saturday’s Scottish Junior Cup Final.

The Whe Ho were in the final for the first time since the 1930s and put up a brave fight against the side who have now won the tournament a record 14 times.

Two late goals were the difference on a stunning day at Rugby Park with strikes from Craig McCracken and Jamie Glasgow the difference.

The Holm Park outfit more than played their part despite the score line and matched the mighty ‘Bot for much of the afternoon, with a baffling offside decision going against Robertson’s side in the first-half.

Scott Gallacher looked to have timed his run perfectly to beat the offside trap and slot past the goalkeeper, but the assistant referee didn’t agree and raised his flag to rule out the goal.

Television replays seemed to suggest the linesman was wrong to do so and the goal should have stood, and it’s a decision which Robertson admited was hard to swallow.

Speaking to the Post, he said: “I’m feeling disappointed but also proud of the effort and quality that the players showed.

“I knew we would turn in a decent performance and the players would do things that were asked of them because they are a good group.

“I thought we were the better team in the first-half and I’m horrified at the offside decision that was given against us. It’s not even close, and the first goal is always going to be important in a game like that.

“I do believe if we got that goal then it would have been a different game.

“We proved against Petershill how tenacious we can be when we have a lead against a good team and it’s one of those what if’s that will haunt us.

“It came at a time where we were clearly frustrating Talbot and their game was scrappy, and that was down to us and our organisation. We forced them into playing the way that they did.

“Everybody was pretty upset about the decision because it was so blatantly onside.

“We felt we could win the game, but we knew it would be tight, so when a decision like that goes against you it is really hard to take.

“We can be disappointed about that, and a bit down about it, but also be proud of the run and the performance and how the players conducted themselves.

“It was bittersweet. We did well, but felt we could have done a little bit more.”

Robertson paid tribute to the Yoker faithful that made the journey to Kilmarnock to cheer on his side and was thrilled his players got the recognition they deserved.

He added: “The support was magnificent and the backing they gave the players to applaud them at the end was a lovely touch.

“The players totally deserved it.”