In their first league game since the July 12th accident that killed the team's equipment officer, the Porcupine Warriors needed a controversial penalty call take a point off Hearts, who now consolidate their hold on 3rd place.

Hearts looked to be heading for all three points when Kwame Kizito put them in front on the hour mark from a superb Winfred Cobbinah pass. But Kotoko responded and earned a path back into the game when the referee adjudged the ball to have hit the hand of a Hearts defender. Saddick Adams made no mistake from the spot, tucking it away. Adams then went on to miss an absolute sitter that would have denied earned Kokoto all three points.

Hearts star man Cobbinah was not happy with the penalty. "The ref was with them. I will say without thinking twice. The penalty was not a penalty. He (the ref) just wanted to help them. The ref made up his mind to give them at least a point and that is not good for Ghana football."

Kotoko have another outstanding game against title chasing WAFA to come, and their coach Steve Polack is keen to make the most of it after brushing off the claims that the referee had unduly helped Kotoko.

"Is it a penalty? It doesn't matter, the referee has given a penalty, so I can't say it wasn't or it was. I just want to say I'm proud of my players, the attitude they showed today especially in the second half," he said.

"I knew the second half was going to take time after what happened, to get into the game and have a goal. I'm proud of them, the attitude, desire and passion to come back and get a point I am very happy and also I want to thank the supporters. They came out in their hundreds."