FRASER DUNCAN was “bitterly disappointed” with his side after they failed to score on Saturday, seeing out a 0-0 draw against league leaders Linlithgow Rose after a good run of form.

Sauchie had a penalty appeal denied and found themselves with chance after chance, but were unable to produce anything from them.

Manager Duncan found the result to be frustrating and felt his team deserved to come away with three points from Saturday's tie.

He told Advertiser Sport: “There was only one team in that game today; we’ve been superb, outstanding today.

“I’m frustrated with the guys because we can’t score. We had so many chances today, if the guys just put their foot through it, maybe we would’ve got something.

“Linlithgow are league leaders, they’ve made it difficult for us but we were the far better side and we just struggled to score.”

Following an even first half, Sauchie came out firing after the break. Ross Kavanagh was on the receiving end of a bad tackle in the box but the referee waved it off, sparking fury from the visiting side.

Duncan found himself booked for his reaction to the decision, aiming his disappointment at the officials.

“I would just like to ask,” Duncan added. “Is there anybody that could tell me that’s not a penalty and a sending-off?

“The referee didn’t want to give the penalty because he didn’t want to send the guy off, it’s as simple as that.

“It’s a definite penalty as far as I’m concerned. For me, their manager screams and shouts at the referee and gives him a warning but when I scream for a penalty, I get a yellow card.

“One rule for one and one rule for another. Seems to be the way it goes when you come here. I’m bitterly disappointed with it all today.”

Next up for Sauchie is a visit from Oakley United on Tuesday, who sit joint bottom after having three points deducted for fielding an illegible player.

It will be a big chance for Sauchie to turn this result around, as they continue to push for the title.

“We need to get scoring goals,” Duncan added. “We had about three or four clear-cut chances to win that game today.

“We were the better side today, we were better defensively, we were better attacking and I think we’ve been hard done by.

“We’ve been hindered by poor officials and poor finishing today. We need to keep momentum and score more goals.

“Our aim is to keep the pressure up with Linlithgow if we can.”