Newly-appointed East Kilbride manager Si Ferry was sent off in his first game in charge of the club after a Halloween nightmare at the back during a 2-1 defeat at home to Ross County.
Two errors from Aaron Steele and Jamie Hamilton gifted goals to Brian Graham and Kieran Phillips, which came back to haunt the hosts with Joao Balde's stoppage-time strike proving too little, too late.
Kilby coach Blair Munn blasted referee Josh Hay for a display that saw Ferry given his marching orders at the death for 'stepping onto the field of play' for a second time in the match. Kilby were also left furious about the denial of a 'stonewall' penalty when Cami Elliott was booked for diving in the first half.
Chaotic build-up at K-Park
It has been a chaotic couple of days at K-Park after the club announced manager Mick Kennedy would be stepping back from his role, as he does not yet hold the relevant coaching badges to ensure compliance with the SFA's bronze licence requirements.
Ferry will now take the wheel for the rest of the season with Kennedy still alongside him in the dugout, although unable to officially take the lead of affairs.
His first game at the helm couldn't have been much tougher with the free-scoring League One leaders coming to town, but Kilby conducted themselves well in the opening half hour until Elliott went down in the box.
Penalty claim and red card
The Kilby striker fell to the ground under a challenge from Dylan Smith in the 17th minute, with an audible clatter as the two went for the loose ball. But, after a short pause, referee Hay opted to book the Kilby captain for simulation.
The Kilby bench erupted and Munn - sent to do media duties with Ferry and Kennedy unavailable - was left questioning a number of big decisions by the whistler.
He told Lanarkshire Live Sport: "It's been a tough day because we got beat and this is not an excuse, but I thought the officials were quite poor today."
"Si's [red card] was a second booking after getting one in the first half for being a yard on the pitch. It is difficult here because we are only a yard off the pitch [with where the dugout is], but that wasn't the only decision that was poor."
"Obviously the big one was the penalty Cami didn't get and that changes the game."
"We have seen it back and it is a stonewaller. The referee has to get that right because it changes the game."
Costly errors and late hope
After the penalty claim drama, Kilby were architects of their own downfall on the half-hour mark when Steele played the ball across the front of his 18-yard box and Brian Graham pounced to net the opener.
In 75 minutes Kilby shot themselves in the foot once more when Jamie Hamilton got caught in possession 30 yards out. That gifted the ball to Chris Hamilton and after his initial effort was saved, the ball broke to Phillips to drill home a fine strike on the rebound.
Balde got in behind in stoppage time and produced a cool finish to provide late hope, but it was too little, too late.
Munn added: "It is maybe the story of our season in terms of dominating the game in terms of possession, lacking a bit in the final third and then giving away cheap goals."
"When you play against a team like Ross County, they are going to punish you with their quality."
"Brian Graham scores a number of goals every season, so we need to learn from it but also take the positives from it."
The result keeps Kilby fourth while County moved two points clear at the summit after Hamilton Accies were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Montrose.
