Ugly Warriors did me proud

STENHOUSEMUIR boss Brown Ferguson insisted he didn’t care if it was ugly as long as they got through against Edinburgh City.

The Warriors became the first side to reach the third round of the Scottish Cup thanks to a second-half strike from Jamie Longworth at Ainslie Park.

And Ferguson was happy to see his side grind their way past the Citizens.

He said: “In cup football, the most important thing is to be in the next round and we’ve done that.

“It wasn’t a great game and it was a bit frustrating at times but the professionalism shown by my players was excellent.”

Stenny, who beat Edinburgh 3-0 in their league meeting a fortnight ago, dominated the first half with some slick passing but were unable to test Calum Antell in goal.

They edged in front though through Longworth’s 49th-minute effort, the frontman steering the ball beyond Antell following Nicky Paterson’s lovely free-kick.

Stenny would have won more convincingly had it not been for some secondhalf heroics from Antell who produced superb saves to deny Colin McMenamin and Mark McGuigan.

A night to forget for City ended with the stoppage-time dismissal of Craig Thomson after the midfielder’s second yellow card of the game.

Edinburgh gaffer James McDonagh, taking charge for the first time since succeeding Gary Jardine, said: “To lose a goal from a set-piece was very disappointing. We lacked that bit of quality and didn’t do enough to win the game.”