Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Joao puts boot into his old club
Portuguese striker too hot for Kilby to handle
East Kilbride ......3 Albion Rovers ....4 Goalscorer Joao Victoria was jokingly warned to bring his padded shin guards for the trip to face his former team — but it was the Rovers hitman who booted East Kilbride out of the Scottish Cup on Saturday.
The Portuguese hitman chipped in with an assist and a goal of his own as Brian Kerr’s men ended a run of five games without a win.
Kilby had opened the scoring with a Ross McNeill header, however, a Craig Howie own goal and strikes from Gary Fisher, Alan Trouten and Victoria looked to have sealed victory.
The home side rallied and cut the deficit, with McNeill’s second of the day and a Howie header in stoppage time but it was too little too late.
Forward Victoria — who was East Kilbride’s top scorer last season— believes Kilby showed they are a decent team despite the hard tackles flying in.
“I thought it was a good game – they are a good side,” he told the Advertiser.
“I would rather not play against my old teammates – but that’s football.
“I did my work and hopefully we can continue winning games now.”
He continued: “I was already told before that I’ll need to bring two pairs of padded shin guards – but they are all good guys.
“They like me as a friend but it’s just the way football is! “It’s your work and your job.” The Lowland League outfit took the lead as top scorer McNeill headed home from a corner.
However, Rovers hit back in 23 minutes as Trouten’s cross was knocked into the Kilby net by Howie.
Rovers looked like a different side after the restart, and captain Fisher found space on the edge of the box to curl in his shot.
It was a two goal lead quickly after, as a sloppy ball from EK sub keeper Matt McGinley fell straight to Ross Davidson, who put Victoria through on goal to coolly slip the ball into the net.
The game was beyond Billy Stark’s men inside 61 minutes, as Victoria chipped the ball across the goal for Trouten to knock it in.
Kilby fought back with a good finish from McNeill - as his rasping shot went straight into the top corner.
Slack defending could have cost Rovers as the home side looked to secure a replay - and came within touching distance as a powerful Howie header nestled in the net in injury time. However, Rovers held on. Striker Victoria now hopes they can reproduce their stunning second half display when they line up against Stranraer this weekend.
He told the Advertiser: “Now we want to continue to play well. I think we can do even better than we did against East Kilbride.”
I would rather not play against my old teammates – but that’s football