Kennoway Star Hearts 4 Blantyre Victoria 0
After the previous week`s postponement due to heavy frost the team`s finally got the chance to face each other in this 3rd round Scottish Junior Cup tie.
Blantrye started well and they almost took the lead inside five minutes. An attack down the left saw the ball arrive in the penalty area, a snapshot from the Vic`s striker saw the ball cannon off the crossbar and away to safety.
The play was evenly contested in the midfield with very little leeway for either side early on.
In fact Kennoway`s first attempt on goal took them twenty minutes to muster. A through ball from Young found Band and the forward just could not get the ball out of his feet quick enough to get a clean shot on target.
Approaching the half hour mark KSH grabbed the lead. A Band corner from the right was fired in with some venom, the ball ricocheted off two Blantyre players before flying into the roof of the net. A goal that helped relieve the tension and saw the home side relax and try and get back to their normal style of play.
It was another corner kick on the 38th minute that saw KSH extend their lead. Band was again the provider as he picked out Doig who powered home a stunning headed goal from six yards.
A fairly even first half that was separated by two quality deliveries from corner kicks. HT 2-0
It was obvious from the start of the second half that Blantyre were going to take a more direct approach. They tried to put pressure on the KSH back four as the midfield was by-passed. Doig and Partridge in the middle were up for the battle as time after time they won their aerial duels with full backs Young and Brewster providing sterling cover on the flanks.
The Vics were showing signs of frustration as a few players picked up needless cautions and this would prove costly to them later in the game.
With Paterson having very little to do in the home goal KSH started to dominate further up the pitch. A late run into the penalty area from Muir saw the midfielder crack a low shot from ten yards that brought out the best from the Vic`s `keeper. From the resultant corner kick Partridge thundered a header of the crossbar.
The home side were firmly in control with C.Gay and McGowan bossing the middle of the park.
Ten minutes remaining and a silly tackle from the Vic`s right back on Band saw the player receive a second yellow card then red as he left his team with a mountain to climb.
Despite this set back the away side had a good few efforts and pressure as they threw caution to the wind. With almost all their players in the KSH half bar one defender and the goalkeeper they looked for a lifeline from a corner kick, the ball was blocked inside the penalty area and Muir quickly released C.Gay. The midfielder had options either side of him as he moved over the half way line, he opted to play in Band and the pace of the Kennoway striker saw him race through on goal before sliding the ball home for the killer third goal. A counter attacking goal at it`s best and a goal that cemented their place in the next round.
With three minutes remaining Band again showed his willingness to chase lost causes as a back pass was a few yards short as he evaded the dejected Blantyre goalkeeper to walk the ball home for his second goal of the game. FT 4-0
Team: Paterson Young Doig Partridge Brewster C.Gay McGowan Craig M.Gay Muir Band Subs: Collins Newlands Lindsay
