Super strike keeps winning run going
East Kilbride ...... 1 Gala Fairydean ..0
Paul Thomson
Martin Lauchlan heaped praise on Adam Strachan after his wonder strike secured East Kilbride’s 24th consecutive win.
Last week we revealed Kilby are closing in on the world record for successive victories in association football, although Guinness World Records won’t recognise it as Kilby don’t play“top-level”football.
And Saturday’s narrow triumph over Gala Fairydean in round two of South of Scotland Challenge Cup leaves them two wins away from matching Ajax’s run of 26 in 1971/72.
However, Kilby gaffer Lauchlan was keen to focus on the contribution of summer signing Strachan after he arrowed home a free-kick from some 40 yards to grab the only goal of the game.
He told the News:“When Strach came in he hadn’t had a pre-season, but he’s come in and worked hard to take his game to a new level.
“He’s up to full speed now and when he was going through the gears on Saturday I thought he was absolutely unbelievable.
“He’s become a majorly important players for us.
“I’m delighted for him and he’s going to be a massive player for us this season.
“I don’t think there was ever a risk with Strachan in terms of his football ability.
“I knew what he could do. It was just whether he had the desire to play at this level and to be fair he’s been magnificent.
“It’s great to keep our record going, but we’re still taking everything one game at a time.”
Strachan’s strike was his seventh goal for East Kilbride this season, but Lauchlan revealed it almost didn’t happen for the midfielder with coach Paul Roberts keen for Fabio Capuano to take the set-piece.
“Robbo was shouting for Fabio to hit it because he practises his free-kicks every night at training,”said Lauchlan.
“He kept going on about it, but Strachan was adamant he was taking it.
“Robbo wasn’t happy, saying Fabio should have hit... – and then, boom, Strachan’s hit it into the top corner.
“I just turned round and smiled at Robbo after that.”
The contest was much closer than Kilby’s 3-1 victory in the league in August and the K-Park boss was impressed with Saturday’s opponents as they made Kilby work all the way to the end for their victory.
He added:“I have to give credit to Gala. I thought they were very good and passed the ball extremely well.
“Jacob Kean made a terrific save towards the end, touching it onto the bar, to make sure we won.
“They are one of the best team’s we’ve come up against this season.”