Cup clashes deliver two for next round

Sep 30 2008

TWO Perthshire teams will go forward to the draw for the second round of the East of Scotland Cup – Kinnoull and Luncarty are the teams concerned.

Blairgowrie, Bankfoot, Jeanfield Swifts, Scone Thistle and Coupar Angus all fell by the wayside in Saturday’s first round ties.

In the all-Perthshire clash at Tulloch Park, Kinnoull accounted for Blairgowrie and emerged 4-0 winners in an exciting cup tie.

The first of those goals was scored in the 32nd minute when a cross from the right found Dave Quinn in the penalty box and he swept the ball past the keeper from 10 yards.

The Blair response to this setback was immediate. They swept up the park and a 20 yard drive from Darren Neave was right on target but it was saved by Kinnoull keeper Duncan Bruce.

There were chances at either end after this but there were no further goals and Kinnoull’s 1–0 lead remained intact up until the interval.

Blair mounted the first attack after the restart and they were awarded a free kick which was about 25 yards from the Kinnoull goal. This was taken by Darren Neave but he hit it over the bar.

Kinnoull increased their lead to 2–0 in 55 minutes.

Blair strived hard to get back into the game but were rebuffed by resolute defending from the Kinnoull defence.

Kinnoull increased their lead to 3–0 when Steve McManus after a long solo dash from just inside the Blair half was left with only the Blair keeper to beat and he did so with a rasping shot from the edge of the penalty box, in 72 minutes.

Steve McManus struck again when he made it 4–0 in the 86th minute to complete the scoring.

Luncarty travelled into the Lothians to take on Stoneyburn who play in the south league.

The Bleachers went into Saturday’s game as second favourites and they turned the tables on their hosts, albeit after the game ended in a no scoring draw and the Bleachers went on to win the penalty shoot out by 4–2.

The Bleachers’ recently signed goalkeeper Craig Houston saved two of the Stoneyburn penalties. Luncarty chairman Ian Bannerman was understandably delighted and he praised his players for their sterling efforts which won them their place in the next round of this cup.

Jeanfield Swifts were at home to premier league side Dundonald Bluebell and the Swifts got off to a nightmare start when they went a goal behind in the first minute of the game.

An attempted pass back from a defender to his keeper Andy Mackie was short and was snapped up by Shaun Gregg. The striker was left in a one to one situation with Andy Mackie who had come dashing off his goal line and made a brilliant blocking save. Unfortunately the ball rebounded back to Shaun Gregg and he dispatched the ball into the back of the empty net.

Swifts to their credit shook off this early setback and immediately set about getting back on level terms with a series of attacks.

In 13 minutes Scott Lafferty was cutting along the left byline towards the Fifers goal but his attempt to cross the ball was stopped by centre half Hunter’s hand. Lady referee, Lorraine Clark, had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot and Tony Holt smacked the resultant spot kick into the back of the net. The game was all square at 1–1 and that was how the score stood at the interval.

The Swifts who had matched their premier league opponents in the first half were soon under pressure from the restart.

There had only been five minutes played and the Bluebells had regained their lead. A ball into the Swifts penalty box wasn’t cleared and Shaun Gregg, who was unmarked, latched on to the loose ball and for a second time the striker beat Andy Mackie to make it 2–1.

The Swifts tried hard to get back on level terms and came near to doing so when Mike Gow connected with a corner but his header went past the post.

The Fifers were now doing most of the attacking and in 62 minutes a cross into the Swifts penalty box was picked up by Raymond Morgan and he was given time to get the ball under control and he fired a well struck shot past Andy Mackie to make it 3–1.

Four minutes later in another attack the Fifers increased their lead to 4–1.

Once again it was poor defensive play that allowed them to do so and it was Raymond Morgan with his second goal that was their scorer. There were no further goals and Swifts were left licking their wounds.

Scone Thistle were guests of the central league leaders Kirkcaldy YM.

Scone were given no chance by the pundits of winning this game and this turned out to be correct but it certainly wasn’t as they had predicted that it would be all over after 90 minutes. It wasn’t as the game ended all square at 3–3 and it had to be decided by a penalty shoot out which the YM won by 7–6.

The Thistle’s young team showed terrific spirit in this game as three times they came from behind to square the game. Veteran striker Alan Cameron was their scoring ace as he netted all three Thistle’s goals.

Alan also netted one of the penalties in the shoot out.

Bankfoot were away to high flying side Bonnyrigg Rose who play in the super league and are second from the top of the table.

Bankies were trailing by 2–0 at the interval those Bonnyrigg goals were scored by Sean Paliczka in 10 minutes and Pat Flannery in 42 minutes.

Bankies however had played very well and hadn’t been completely out of the game as an attacking force and they came near to scoring once or twice.

The second half saw them come even more into the game and they reduced the leeway with a goal from the penalty spot in 66 minutes.

Scott McCabe took the spot kick which he hammered past the Rose keeper and they came close once or twice to getting the equaliser but it didn’t happen for them.

Bankfoot striker John Mitchell was carried off with a leg injury just minutes before Bankies got their penalty, this was the result of a very crude tackle, however it wasn’t quite as bad as it looked.

Bankies keeper Darren McGarry was named as man of the match by the match sponsor.

Coupar Angus were away to Glenrothes who are another team who play in the super league and Coupar opened the scoring in this game early in the first half with a goal from Stephen Williamson.

Coupar went on to lose by 4–2 but they turned in a very creditable performance. Matosh Moravcik was Coupar’s other scorer with a 25 yard free kick.

Blairgowrie have placed their high scoring forward John Farquharson on the transfer list at his own request. Blair are also prepared to let their striker Andy Murray go on loan.

All enquires should be directed to club secretary Mike Coyle at 07764156332.

Perthshire Juniors

SATURDAY’S results: East of Scotland Cup first round – Kinnoull 4, Blairgowrie 0; Jeanfield Swifts 1, Dundonald Bluebell 4; Bonnyrigg Rose 2, Bankfoot 1; Glenrothes 4, Coupar Angus 2; Stoneyburn 0, Luncarty 0 (2–4 penalties); Kirkcaldy YM 3, Scone Thistle 3 (7–6 penalties).

Scottish Cup ‘Seniors’ – Lochee United 3, Bathgate Thistle 1.