Scottish Cup Second Round

The Senior Scottish Cup Second Round replay between Girvan and Golspie Sutherland will go ahead after a kick off time of 1.30pm today was agreed.

Golspie made a 550 mile round trip to Ayrshire on Saturday only for the game to be called off less than 2 hours before kick off.

Hamilton Park was deemed to be unplayable on Saturday by referee Andrew Dallas, , with Girvan Committee member Ronnie Hutcheson saying, “I don’t blame the referee as some parts of the ground had water on it when he made his inspection. Things brightened up and it looked playable at 3 o’clock but that was not the case earlier.”

“Some of the Golspie players had stayed overnight nearby and were here when the game was called off. As you can imagine they were really disappointed as were the players and fans on the two mini-buses that were well down the road.”

Hutcheson added, “We have offered to play the game on either Monday or Tuesday in line with the rules and Golspie agreed on Sunday afternoon that a Monday lunchtime kick off was the only acceptable outcome.”

“Referee Dallas came down and inspected the pitch on Sunday afternoon and it was passed then so we have to keep our fingers crossed that we get the go-ahead this time.”

The winners are home to Stranraer in the next round.

In the games that did go ahead Montrose youngster Martin Boyle scored in extra time to give the Gable Endies a 3-2 win over arch rivals Arbroath at Gayfield. Steven Tweed’s side had gone two up before half time thanks to strikes from former Arbroath player Chris Hegarty and on-loan Dundee United midfielder Ross McCord.

Alan Rattray headed in twice in quick succession to draw Paul Sheerin’s men level and force extra time, however the game swung back in Montrose’s favour when the home side’s Stuart Malcolm saw red just before the end of the ninety minutes.

Substitute Boyle ended a fine run with a powerful drive to win the tie and leave Tweed delighted despite the late sending off of Daryl Nicol.

Tweed said, “We should have won it in normal time but it is a cup tie and all that matters is that we are through and not how we got there.”

A disappointed Sheerin was frustrated at both ends of the pitch saying, “You can not conceded three goals and expect to win games. We also should have converted our chances better and that is the difference between going through and going out.”

In the next round Montrose host a Whitehill Welfare side that defeated Wick Academy 4-3 at Ferguson Park. The East of Scotland side took the lead when Scott Gormley scored only for the Scorries Richard Macadie to level before half time.

Ross Allum and Daryl Devlin’s double appeared to have Whitehill coasting to victory early in the second half only for Macadie to score twice to ensure a nervous finish.

Welfare boss Paul Cavanagh said, “We certainly let them back into the game and credit to Wick as they almost made us pay.”

Wick’s co-manager Ian Munro added, “I thought we were going to get level but the spell just after half time ended up costing us.”

Annan saw off Preston 5-0 in their replay with John MacBeath’s early goal setting the tone. Ian Harty added two and Jordan Halsam made it four before half time.

Spaniard Javier Amaya completed the scoring in the second half to leave Annan manager Harry Cairney saying, “John’s early goal disrupted their game plan and that forced them to come out a bit. We took full advantage of that when it happened.”

Annan now face Brechin City away with Third Division East Stirling winning through for a trip to face Spartans after seeing off Forres 4-0 in their replay.

Kevin Cawley scored the Shire’s first goal since August to open the scoring and he went on to grab a hat-trick with further goals either side of half time. Visiting goalkeeper Stuart Knight brought down Scott Johnston just outside the box to earn a red-card and David Dunn inflicted further punishment by firing home the free kick to make it four.

Shire’s assistant coach David Nicholls said, “After eight games without a goal it was a bit of a relief and you could see our confidence rise after the goal went in.”

Visiting manager Charlie Rowley said, “East Stirling played better than us and I have no complaints at all about the scoreline.”