Magnificent sevenforYM
Fenwick Thistle ........ 1 East Kilbride YM ....... 7
A Craig Tocher hat-trick helped East Kilbride YM cruise into round four of the West of Scotland Cup with a thumping win over Fenwick Thistle.
This third round tie finally went ahead at the third time of asking and a delighted YM travelled back up the M77 with seven goals to show for their efforts.
The visitors wasted no time imposing themselves on their Ayrshire opponents and Connor McCann had the ball in the net after 30 seconds but was harshly adjudged to have been off side.
However, just 90 seconds later they did take the lead.
A short corner from Scott Chaplain to Ricky Orr soon teed up Jordan Fletcher to send a 20-yard shot fizzing high into the net to give YM an early lead.
McCann was tripped in the penalty box after 10 minutes and Cammy McCulloch scored from the spot to increase their lead.
After the initial splendid start from YM, Fenwick tried to hit back but it was to no avail.
Nearing half time another short corner from Chaplain to Fletcher ended with the ever alert McCann scoring from close range to give YM a 3-0 lead at the interval.
The second half saw prolific scorer Tocher come to the fore as he tormented the Ayrshire defenders with his strong running and shooting.
McCann put Tocher in possession and his 18 yard shot flew high into the net for the fourth and Steven McCulloch then put Tocher through for YM’s fifth goal, another rising shot from distance.
Fenwick pulled a goal back soon after but Tocher added a further two goals, the second of which was his hat-trick and YMs 50th competitive goal of the season so far, to bring this one sided contest to an end.
YM will play their fourth round tie away to Milngavie Wanderers this Saturday.
Elsewhere, YM’s Scottish Amateur side inflicted the first defeat of the season on league leaders Rossvale, winning 2-0 with Anthony Penman and Ryan Kelly scoring.
YM’s Greater Glasgow Premier side lost 3-1 at Springburn Thistle.