NEILSTON’S co-manager Martin Campbell admits he expects sparks to fly when The Farmer’s Boys return to Craighead Park to replay the tie with Lesmahagow that ended in controversy earlier this month.

The Gow were 3-1 up with nine minutes still to play when referee Michael McCart bizarrely blew for full-time and ordered both teams off the pitch despite protests from both sides.

West Region chiefs have since ruled that the tie is to be replayed at a later date starting at 0-0. Lesmahagow have now appealed the decision citing some conflicting reports from the West Region committee about the referee’s report of the incident. Even if the appeal is successful a replay of the remaining time or the entire 90 minutes would appear the only likely options.

If the ruling stands, Martin Campbell said he expects the replay to be a fiery tie encounter given Lesmahagow’s sense of injustice and the Farmer’s Boys boss backed the original ruling of the West Region.

He said: “It will be tasty, I don’t think we’ll be under any illusions about that. It will be lively that day and it will probably add a few extra people onto the crowd as well.

“If our boys are not up for that we should be worried. They should be looking forward to it as well, knowing they are going to a game which might be a bit heated.

“In our opinion it is definitely the right decision. We understand why Lesmahagow would have a gripe when they are winning 3-1, but we know in football how quickly things can turn.

“We had a look at the rules and they say unless both teams agree to cut the game short each half must last for 45 minutes and clearly it didn’t.”

Neilston played out a 0-0 draw with Lanark United in their Scottish Cup second round fixture on Saturday, with Campbell adding he was left frustrated, he added: “We were the better team and just couldn’t put an opportunity away. It was frustrating game because we dominated large periods, having said that they hit the bar a couple of times but I didn’t feel as if we were under any pressure.”