Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
CAIRN ARE CUP HISTORY BOYS
Airdrie juniors’delight as they reach final
Boss Willie Kinniburgh heaped praise on his Gartcairn history-makers as they earned their spot in the club’s first cup final.
A Martin Shiels double and a Gary Arbuckle strike against Lanark proved to be enough to secure a Champions Cup final place.
The Airdrie outfit now face the prospect of a Lanarkshire derby against Glencairn or a glamour tie with Auchinleck Talbot to fight it out for the trophy.
The Rutherglen side will welcome the Ayrshire men in the semi-final tonight (Wednesday).
Delighted Kinniburgh says he doesn’t care who they get in the final after a terrific display at MTC Park, which earned their place in the Cairn record books.
“For the game yesterday the boys were absolutely excellent,” he told the Advertiser.
“The club has not being going that long, but the boys can be proud that they have got the club to a cup final – it’s a great achievement.
“The way the match went we fully deserved to get through.
“It’s a credit to the players that they could get themselves up for the game because at the moment it seems like every week these storms are getting our games called off.
“Their goal was from 30-yards out; a wonder strike. We can’t legislate for that.
“It’s great to see them bounce back and get the win.”
He continued: “If you go with who you think it will be, you would assume it’s Talbot.
“For us though, it doesn’t matter who we play it’s just the occasion. It’s great for the players to be able to play in a cup final at any level.”
As the club scrap to keep their Championship status for next season, the gaffer hopes the result will act as a boost for their survival hopes.
The boss has added former
Clyde and Annan forward Tony Wallace to his attacking options for the final run-in and praised his first showing.
“The hope is now that can help our league form,” Kinniburgh added.
“Our form has been really poor recently but we now have a squad that is coming together.
“Tony [Wallace] has come in and impressed in training.
“He made a really big difference to us on his debut and there have been quite a few changes in recent weeks.
“We are improving in training and we’re confident going into our next few games now that results will pick up.”