Nine is fine... but we wanted more

Gartcairn ................. 9 Whitehills ................ 0

Boss Davie Greig believes record- breaking Gartcairn could have won by more in their Junior Cup rout.

Returning striker Gary Arbuckle opened the scoring against Whitehills, with strike partner Ryan Donnelly netting a double.

Darren Bowie and Michael Williams both grabbed a brace against the North West Region First Division side, with Jamie Van Nuill and a Whitehills own goal rounding off the scoring. It was a scoreline for the record books – as the Airdrie men secured the biggest win in their history over the Banff outfit.

However, after the MTC Park men raced into a seven-goal lead at the break, Greig insisted they could have reached double figures against the visitors – who had made a huge 360-mile trip south for the cup clash.

“In the first half on Saturday we were in brilliant form,” said Greig.

“We were dominating the game early doors. Gary ( Arbuckle) gets his goal inside the first 10 minutes and we were in control.

“You can’t have any complaints when you are 7-0 up at half-time.

“In the second half we were just a bit careless and clumsy.

“We took our foot off the gas. I think we were concentrating a bit too much on scoring pretty goals.

“We expected that Whitehills would come down from Aberdeen with a bit more fight but the quality wasn’t as high as we thought it would be.

“It was a good result – but we won’t find it as easy as that in the league.”

Arbuckle – who had been out of the side after a six-week lay-off – scored inside nine minutes after meeting a cross from Murray Spooner.

A neat passing move between Arbuckle and right-back Williams saw the lead doubled, before Donnelly got in on the action to make it three.Then Bowie was left unmarked in the box to slot home the fourth before a passing move between Bowie, Williams and Arbuckle teed-up defender Williams to smash home a goal of the season contender.

Van Nuill, also making his return to the squad after a lengthy spell on the sidelines, lashed the ball home from a tight angle to put the Airdrie men up by six.

It was seven heaven before the break as the Whitehills defender miscued a clearance and put it in his own net.

In the second period Donnelly and Bowie scored to complete the impressive victory.

Attack-minded Murray Spooner fires a cross into the box

Top gunners Gartcairn were in fine form against their visitors from Banff Photo: David Rankin