Coupar hold out to progress in cup

Nov 11 2008 by Our Correspondent, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

COUPAR ANGUS, who were at home to Ellon United in their Scottish Cup second round replay, took the lead in 13 minutes when a cross from Duncan Cocker was headed home by Derek Lomas.

Ellon had a chance to get back on level terms midway through the half but Derek Craigie hit the ball past the post.

Coupar took full advantage of this near setback when they went 2–0 ahead with a goal from their striker Jacek who managed to push the ball over the goal line in a goalmouth scrimmage.

A couple of minutes before the interval Coupar’s keeper Arik brilliantly saved a shot from Ellon’s Andy McCraw which allowed his team to go in at the break with their two goal lead intact.

Coupar went on to extend their lead to 3–0 in 65 minutes when Stephen Williamson connected with a long throw in from Simon Christie. Stephen was facing the wrong way but he somehow managed to back head the ball over the keeper for what was a well taken goal.

Ellon retaliated immediately to this further setback and within a matter of minutes they had reduced the leeway when Derek Craigie smacked home a 20 yard free kick.

This goal signalled a change of pattern in the game as it was now Coupar who were on the defensive as Ellon threw everything at them in a desperate bid for further goals.

They were however held at bay until the final minute of the game when Scott Henry made it 3-2 but it was too little too late and Coupar deservedly went through to round three.

Kinnoull were away to Shotts Bon Accord and came close to taking the lead after only nine minutes when Iain Wilkie connected with a cross from Chris Anton and headed the ball down to Mark Gordon. Mark shot on the turn and it looked to be a homer but it was brilliantly saved by the Shotts keeper.

Five minutes later Kinnoull found themselves a goal behind when Kevin Barr broke through his shot from inside the penalty box was parried by keeper Duncan Bruce but the ball unfortunately fell to Mark McEever who had only to touch it over the goal line.

The play surged from end to end but there was little in the way of goalmouth activity which was due to good defensive play from both teams.

Steve McManus manufactured a chance for himself when persistence won him the ball and a reasonable chance. Steve however blasted the ball past the post.

Kinnoull replaced Chris Anton with Martin Maher from the start of the second half and Martin came close to breaking the deadlock when he met with a corner from Gary Sweeney but his header went past the post.

Kinnoull were doing most of the attacking but they didn’t cause the Shotts keeper any great anxiety. Their best effort came in 62 minutes when a dipping shot from Steve McManus had the keeper scrambling back to push the ball out for a corner which unfortunately brought no joy.

Kinnoull kept striving for the equaliser and then in 78 minutes a counter attack from Shotts won them a corner which was fired into the near post and head flicked on to John Goodwin who bundled the ball over the goal line at the back post to make it 2-0.

Despite this further setback Kinnoull continued to strive to get back into the game and they came close to doing so when a cross landed in the Shotts goalmouth and while both Martin Maher and Gary Sweeney were in close proximity they couldn’t get near enough to apply the vital finishing touch.

There was only three minutes of the game remaining when Kevin Barr finally wrapped the game up with goal number three for Shotts.

Jeanfield Swifts kept within touching distance of the central league leaders when they trounced Newburgh to the tune of 4-0 at the Riverside. The Swifts while they have turned in better performances were by far the stronger side in this game.

Kevin Fowler missed a chance to put Swifts into the lead in the first minute when he fired the ball past the post from a good position. Three minutes later Swifts came close again when Tony Holt fired a free kick from the edge of the penalty box inches past the post.

The first chance for the Fifers came in 11 minutes when their striker Stuart Cargill was put through and well into the Swifts penalty box, but . he had the ball taken off him by a brilliant last ditch tackle from Bally Whytock.

There was a double miss from Tony Holt in 18 minutes. Tony was left with only the keeper to beat but he shot against him.

Swifts broke the deadlock midway through the half. The Fifers goalkeeper pushed a shot from David Thornton on to the face of the bar and as it fell John Anderson was on the spot to slot it home.

Swifts increased their lead to 2-0 in 44 minutes when a corner was took a deflection off a defender and it landed with Mike Waring who netted.

There was a real flurry of goalmouth activity in the opening minutes of the second half. First Stuart Cargill had a great chance to reduce the leeway for the Fifers but failed to put it away. This was a most fortuitous let off for Swifts as they went on to increase their lead to 4-0 in the next six minutes. David Thornton got the first of those goals when he picked up a through ball and as he made for goal the keeper came off his goal line, David coolly rounded him and slotted the ball home.

John Anderson and Tony Holt combined to open up the Fifers defence. They laid the ball off to Mike Waring who beat the keeper from about 12 yards for his second goal.

Swifts should have added a few more to their tally but they frittered away a host of good chances.

Newburgh’s best chance came in 79 minutes when Swifts defender Steven Watt conceded a penalty. Kevin Masson took the spot kick but failed to convert.

Bankfoot and Luncarty met at Coronation Park and the Bleachers had their new manager Barry Malcolm in charge for the first time.

This was a typical derby game which was pretty evenly contested although Bankfoot could probably claim to have the edge.

Play had surged from end to end before the Bankies broke the deadlock in 14 minutes. A ball across the face of the Luncarty goal wasn’t cleared and Scott McCabe managed to push the ball over the goal line.

The Bleachers were back on level terms within four minutes with a terrific goal scored from 30 yards. Ewan Murray was the scorer.

This rocked the Bankies and for a spell the Bleachers had them back on the defensive and twice they struck the woodwork from fairly close range when they really should have done better and they were made to rue those missed chances.

In 38 minutes a ball into the Bleachers goalmouth wasn’t cleared and there was a real scrimmage. Bankies striker Alan Stewart pounced on the loose ball and proceeded to hit it over the goal line from a few yards out to make it 2-1 and that’s how the game ended.

Scone Thistle were away to Crossgates Primrose and they turned in an excellent performance.

The first half ended goalless and that was no more than the Thistle deserved.

Crossgates went ahead on the hour mark thanks to what Scone felt was a rather soft penalty award. Mark Pagliarulo converted the spot kick.

Crossgates finally clinched the points with a second goal in 85 minutes. Chris Brown was their scorer. Thistle also had Dave Routledge sent off for a last man offence.

Blairgowrie were away to Newtongrange Star in the Premier League and the first half was fairly evenly matched before the Lothian’s side broke the deadlock in stoppage time – which was tough luck on Blair.

The Davie Park side had missed a couple of good chances, had a strong penalty claim turned down and could easily have been ahead.

But further disaster befell the Blair team in the second half, when they lost three goals – and had three players sent off.

The result and the dismissals seemed to be a rather harsh on Blairgowrie, who had performed well at New Victoria Park.

The draw for the third round of the Scottish Cup saw Coupar Angus and Jeanfield Swifts each get home draws. Coupar Angus will play west of Scotland side St Anthony’s and Swifts take on north region side Dyce. Ties to be played on November 29.