Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Cairn crushed but Greig still so proud
Gartcairn boss Davie Greig has told his players to keep their heads high after the Monklands clubs’ surprise run to the quarter- finals of the Scottish Junior Cup was comprehensively ended by Linlithgow Rose.
Cairn earned many plaudits for their march into the last eight but they were no match for one of the game’s big boys.
They started the game brightly, and looked keen on causing on of the biggest shocks ever in the Junior Cup. But the quality of the hosts soon came to the fore.
“We had a couple of chances at crucial times, but we didn’t give Linlithgow anything to think about,” reflected Greig .
“But the boys should be really proud to get to this stage. A lot of clubs who have been going for hundreds of years have never been in that position.
“On the day, we didn’t turn up, but we know there will be other big days for the club.”
It was the Airdrie side who had the first chance of the match as some terrific play saw Josh Moore with the goal at his mercy eight yards out but the midfielder side-footed the ball wide.
It would turn out to be their best chance of the game as Linlithgow took the lead on 18 minutes when Tommy Coyne’s effort deflected into the far corner.
That strike settled any nerves the hosts might have had and they would double their lead before the break when Kevin Kelbie, who twice forced Anton Nugent into stunning saves, got on the end of a Connor Kelly cross to stroke the ball home.
The game was effectively wrapped up in the early stages of the second half when Robbie McNab ran through the heart of the visitors’ defence before finishing beyond the helpless Nugent.
It now became a matter of how many Linlithgow would score as they took total domination of the contest although Gartcairn, cheered on by a vocal support, never stopped battling.
The fourth goal arrived in unfortunate circumstances for the underdogs as Callum Brady diverted a cross into his own net before a three-goal spree in the final 15 minutes rounded things off for the Rose, whose cup form this season has been in direct contrast to their struggling league form.
Lewis Small came off the bench to net for Linlithgow on 75 minutes before Lee Pettigrew went close to giving his side a consolation with a low, fizzing effort that was well saved by Darren Hill.
Coyne grabbed his second of the contest before Harvey Swann wrapped things up in the 88th minute.