STRANRAER boss Chris Aitken admitted he was baffled after the Bully Wee netted twice in the final minutes to beat the Blues 2-1 at Stair Park.
Stranraer had the ball in the net early in the second half, with Robbie Foster applying the finishing touch after Elliot Dunlop cracked the post with his initial strike.
But the assistant referee had flagged for offside, although replays afterwards showed the striker to be onside.
However, it looked like the Blues would hold on for three points following Mark Russell’s 80th minute penalty after visiting captain Andy Murdoch had handled the ball in the area.
But, incredibly, the goalscorer was sent off two minutes later for a second yellow card for a challenge after playing a pass.
Martin Rennie stepped up to hit the free kick and he fired a rocket into the far corner to level the contest.
Stranraer then fell behind in extra time as Rennie struck again with a close range effort following a corner kick.
Blues manager Chris Aitken said: “I’m actually lost for words. How my team have lost that game is beyond me. Some of the decisions – I asked for an explanation on the red card. If that’s a red card, then the game’s gone. Mark Russell passes the ball 25 yards and the ref says it’s reckless. I’m baffled.”
He added: “It is what it is. Too many times this year we’ve had an opportunity from being in front to see it out, and we’ve not. That’s something that we need to address next year.”
Tomorrow afternoon Aitken’s side travel to Edinburgh to face Spartans.
