Scone’s cup race draws to a finish

Oct 7 2008 by Our Correspondent, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

SCONE THISTLE’S involvement in this season’s Scottish Cup ended rather prematurely when they lost by 3–1 on their own RDM ground to North Region Super League side Culter in the first round on Saturday.

Thistle however turned in a sterling performance against their high profile opponents.

They were no doubt left to regret failing to put away chances that could have at least earned them a second bite at the cherry.

Scone started off in a sprightly fashion and in the first 10 minutes they had forced two corners which brought them no joy.

It became a matter of tit for tat as it was Culter’s turn to win two corners in the space of the next seven minutes, but they had the same end result, they came to nothing.

Thistle came very close to taking the lead in the 21st minute when a well hit shot from Darren Gray, who was on the edge of the penalty box looked as if it would land in the back of the net but the keeper somehow managed to block it with his legs and the ball was cleared.

The game had just passed the half hour mark when Culter’s Scott Robertson burst through and hit a crashing drive from all of 20 yards which was right on target but was brilliantly saved by Scone keeper Dave Winton.

Culter went on to win a corner two minutes later and Greg McBain connected and fortunately for Thistle his header went inches over the bar.

The same player came very close to scoring a few minutes later when he hit a rasping 20 yard shot which rattled off the post and that certainly was a let off for Scone as their keeper wasn’t going to get to the ball.

The interval was less than a minute away when Scone broke the deadlock to take the lead.

Darren Gray cut in from the left and laid the ball off to Scott McManus who cracked it into the back of the net from close range.

The second half had only been in operation three minutes and the teams were back on level terms.

Culter had won a corner out on the right and it was headed into the back of the net by Lewis McKimmie.

Scone retaliated immediately as they swept into the attack and Scott McManus was put through and as he made tracks for goal he was left with only the keeper, who came racing off his line, to beat.

Scott however hit the ball straight at the keeper who had no difficulty in blocking the shot.

Culter went ahead in 70 minutes when a corner was swung into the heart of the Scone penalty box and it caused a bit of a scramble.

The ball was deflected into the corner of the net off a Scone defenders ankle and Culter were 2–1 ahead.

Scone once again retaliated immediately from when the ball was centred.

It was pushed through to Scott Ballingall who turned his marker and went on to round the keeper who had come out of his goal to try and thwart Scott who was left at quite an acute angle to the goal.

His shot didn’t turn quite enough and it trundled past the post and a great chance of squaring the game was lost.

Culter’s third goal which finally clinched the tie for them was scored by Ryan Stott in 86 minutes.

Davie Park was the venue for the Blairgowrie–Crossgates Primrose first round clash.

The teams both live to fight another day as this encounter finished goalless.

Blairgowrie had most of the attacking play and created a number of chances but they just couldn’t find that vital finishing touch that would put the ball in the back of the net.

Crossgates, while they were much more on the defensive, were dangerous on the break.

But, like their hosts, they failed to convert any chances into goals.

Blairgowrie manager Billy Mackay was obviously disappointed they didn’t win this tie in front of their own fans but he is quite confident they will win the replay at Crossgates Humbug Park on Saturday.

There were two GA Cup first round ties played. Luncarty were at home to Montrose Roselea while Bankfoot were away to Brechin Vics.

Luncarty unfortunately went out of the cup as they lost to Roselea by 5–2 all seven goals were scored in the second half.

Bankfoot however came home from their trip to Brechin full of the joys as they won their tie against the Vics by 2–1 and now have a home tie against Lewis United in round two.

The Luncarty–Roselea tie failed to produce any goals.

In the second half, goals were scored at a quite fast and furious rate of knots.

Roselea striker Kevin ‘Zola’ Longmuir was his teams hero.

Zola netted four of the Roselea’s five goals. Calum Rae was their other scorer.

Two of those goals from Zola came in the final 10 minutes when the Bleachers were trailing by 3–2 and were pushing for the equaliser.

Bob Nairn and Ewan Murray were the Bleacher’s scorers.

Bankfoot got off to a great start in their tie against Brechin Vics at Victoria Park. The Bankies took the lead after only seven minutes.

Scott McCabe who was playing at centre half started the move that brought about this goal when he chipped the ball over the heads of a few defenders to John Mitchell.

John chested the ball down and then cracked a left foot shot which rebounded off the post and fell to Neil McDougal who was following up and he knocked the ball over the goal line and Bankies were ahead.

The Bankies had most of the attacking play but failed to add to their score.

In the 25th minute they were brought back to earth when some slip shod defending presented Vics striker Chris Simpson with a chance, which he accepted, to level the score with a well struck shot from around 15 yards that left Bankies keeper Darren McGarry helpless.

There were no further goals scored before the interval.

The Bankies dominated the second half and produced a number of chances but between poor finishing and good goalkeeping all they had to show for their efforts was one further goal and that came from the penalty spot and won them the game.

Gavin Mackie had left a couple of opponents in his wake in a solo run which took him into the Vics’ penalty box where he was brought down and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot.

Scott McCabe took the resultant kick and he hammered it past the goalkeeper to make it 2–1, in the 61st minute. Despite their constant pressure Bankies couldn’t add to their score.

Jeanfield Swifts were at home to Steelend Vics in the central league.

Swifts were pretty much on top in the first half but they failed to capitalise on the chances they created and in 39 minutes they found themselves a goal behind when Vics striker Darren Seath connected with a free kick and headed his team into the lead.

Swifts were back on level terms after only a minute.

Tony Holt picked up the ball when he was somewhere around 35 to 40 yards from the Vics goal.

His shot from that distance skidded on the wet turf and went under the keeper as he dived to save the shot. The score was now 1–1.

Twice in the final five minutes of the half Swifts striker John Anderson came close to giving this side an interval lead.

The first of those chances came when he connected with a cross from Kevin Fowler.

His header was well saved by the keeper.

A couple of minutes later John connected with another cross this time from Scott Lafferty but his header went over the bar.

Swifts after doing most of the attacking in the early part of the second half were shocked for a second time to find themselves suddenly trailing by a goal after 57 minutes.

A free kick into the Swifts goalmouth was pushed out by keeper Andy Mackie and for a second time Vics’ Darren Seath was on the spot to grab the chance and put the Vics 2–1 ahead.

Swifts levelled the score in 75 minutes when Sean Fergus scored with a strike from all of 25 yards.

A minute later Sean changed his role from goalscorer to provider when he found John Anderson with a great pass.

The striker was in glorious isolation in the penalty box and he promptly whacked the ball into the back of the net to make it 3–2 and this proved to be the winner.

Coupar Angus were away to Forfar Albion in the north league and they kept their successful run in league games going when they won this game 1–0.

This goal came from the penalty spot. Stephen Williamson was brought down in the box in the 20th minute and John Blackwood scored with the spot kick.

Perthshire Juniors

SATURDAY’S results: Scottish Cup first round – Scone Thistle 1, Culter 3; Blairgowrie 0, Crossgates Primrose 0.

GA Cup first round – Luncarty 2, Montrose Roselea 5; Brechin Vics 1, Bankfoot Athletic 2.

North League – Forfar Albion 0, Coupar Angus 1.

Central League – Jeanfield Swifts 3, Steelend Vics 2.

Match off – Penicuik v Kinnoull (pitch waterlogged).