Crew United boss Eamonn McCarthy says the weekend’s withdrawal “left a bitter taste in the mouth”

Eamonn McCarthy admits Saturday’s deadlock with Purview Mill left a “bad taste” as Crewe United’s title hopes waned.

A 1-1 draw at Pepperton Park saw the team fall further behind leader A in the middle, Ballymacash Rangers, who won 5-1 at Richhill AFC.

Tandragi beat Rovers 5-0 on Wednesday night, but the difference is 14 points.

McCarthy’s side have three games to play, but after losing their first points since October, they have to climb the mountain.

Cruz Boss was furious over the penalty decision, which led to Bourne equalizing and also ousting Stephen Brown.

“It’s very frustrating,” McCarthy told Match on Tuesday.

“I thought the first 15 minutes of Bourneview were very good, then at the end of the first half and the beginning of the second we were very good. We were in control.

“We had the best player on the pitch a mile away from Aaron Harmon and he looked very comfortable.

Then came the penalty decision, which was bad.

“We were far from the accident, but the reaction of our players showed that it was not a penalty.

The Borneo boy also said it wasn’t a penalty and that their central striker was hitting our middle half.

Then Stephen Brown was fired and the whole game changed.

We won 12 games and then it happened. I’m tired.

“I’m honest and when we’re not playing well I raise my hand. Someone might scream in the locker room.

“But such a thing, I have to speak up. For us it was free, but the referee pointed it out right away.

“We should have got a penalty in the second half. A knock on the door hit the goalkeeper in the hand. This should be given.

“Maybe one day we will take a decision from the referee and we will be lucky. Saturday was very frustrating and it has happened to us a few times this season.

“Saturday’s punishment left a bad taste in my mouth.”

McCarthy added: “Decisions like this can cost you the end of the season.

“Our record speaks for itself. We won 12 lotteries and comfortably beat the Ballymacash Rangers at Crewe Park. We made some good transfers in the January window and are looking strong.

“If the good side defeats you, take off your hat. But such a tie is defeatist and disgusting.

“It was hard going 10 guys. You try, but the guys are a little tired.

But Bourneviews are a good team and they are one of the best teams we have played this season.

They were seated and hit at the break, but in a hurry at the break.

“But I thought we dominated Saturday’s game before the penalty shootout and then everything changed.”

McCarthy admits Crowe has no time to worry as the title hopes to play Tandraghi again on Wednesday night before facing St Mary’s on Saturday.

“We have to keep going. There are still a lot of games to play this season and there is a long way to go,” he added.

“The ball is now flat on Balimakesh court, but we have 11 games left, or 33 points. We will try to win every game.

We have a game on Wednesday night and we have to come back again. We have to restart.

“If he goes to Balimake and wins the rest of the games, they deserve it. It will be hellish miles and they will earn it.

We want to force them and try to implement them. If we short, we get it. “