Lowland League East: East Stirlingshire's Callum Tapping on 'bizarre' 3-3 draw

The Ochilview Park side found themselves 3-0 down away to Civil Service Strollers on the half-hour mark. And it looked like the ‘Shire were facing a sixth defeat on the spin in all competitions having also been knocked out of the Scottish Cup buy Bonnyton Thistle.

But they battled back to secure a point – with manager Callum Tapping admitting that his team probably should have actually won it.

Falkirk co-op loanee Kalvin Bennett got a goal back before the break with a Tony Coutts double in the second half earning a 3-3 draw. The hosts also finished the match with ten men after Josh McCulloch and Jonathan Cain’s sendings off.

"It was bizarre,” player-boss Tapping told the Falkirk Herald. “We actually started the game really well. We find ourselves one goal down after a good 15 minutes.

“The officials then play a big part in things after that point for both teams. The penalty for the second goal is never a penalty in my opinion. I was scratching my head at 2-0 because we were playing well.

"The third was a bit of a joke. The ball was out of play by a few yards. It’s so clear, everyone stops. But play somehow went on and they scored. To be 3-0 down was mental – I couldn’t really fault the players.”

Tapping added: “We then got the goal back and kicked on. We had further opportunities before half time to make it 3-2 or 3-3. But I still felt confidence going into the second half.

"We had to get the next goal and we did that. The sendings off clearly make a difference to the game. I think they both were sendings off but the referee maybe has the first half in his mind too.

"The last 10 minutes, we threw everything at them. It’s one of them – if we another minute or two then I think we would have won it. I am delighted for the boys, to come back from three goals down in any game is brilliant.

"The circumstances make it that little bit sweeter. It’s funny though because it felt a little bit like a defeat in the changing room afterwards. We felt that we could have won it.”

‘Shire skipper Coutts was the unlikely hero, scoring a second-half brace. And it could have been a hat-trick, with the defender hitting the post with a low effort just on the 90-minute mark.

“Tony was great. He stood up and was a proper captain. And I had spoken to the boys recently about showing personality. After the Bonnyton cup exit, I didn’t question the guys but I challenged them to show that other side of the game.

"You need to show that personality and fight and not feel sorry for yourself when something doesn’t go your way. It is an easy thing to do in football. We got away from that side of the game for a few weeks.”

‘Shire now travel to Brechin City next Tuesday night on league duty with no cup tie this weekend. It’s a tough few days for the club with a trip to Berwick Rangers following that on the Saturday.