Kilby’s cup woes after early exit
Gaffer hits out at treatment of midfielder Strachan
East Kilbride boss Billy Stark slammed the treatment of midfielder Adam Strachan during their South Challenge Cup defeat to Cumbernauld Colts.
Kilby were hoping to defend the trophy they won in May, but they surrendered their trophy at the first hurdle on Friday night after Willie Mortimer’s second-half strike sent Colts through to round three.
Cumbernauld exacted some revenge for their defeat in last season’s final, which Kilby won 4-2. Strachan ran the show for East Kilbride that day and it seems that didn’t go amiss.
In the re-match at Broadwood Colts targeted the winger for some tough treatment, with a series of late tackles.
And Stark said: “Cumbernauld took their chance and fair play to them, but their treatment of Adam was shocking.
“The abuse he took was incredible. I’ve never seen anything like it.
“But the Cumbernauld players were clever about it, they took turns.
“Eventually the referee had to take their captain aside and told them to calm down, but I felt he should have done his job better.
“Adam was a bit too quick for them, so there were a few lunges. They had recognised he was the danger man.
“But I was proud of the way our boys handled that.
“Colts made it a physical game, but we coped with it in a disciplined manner.
“We wanted to win the game and without a doubt we should have won the game.
“But it just wasn’t to be and that can happen, especially in a cup game.”
The visitors made a number of changes following last week’s Scottish Cup triumph over Cowdenbeath.
Keeper Jacob Kean dropped to the bench to be replaced by Matt McGinley, while loan signings Keiran Campbell and Mati Zata were handed starts alongside Liam Coogans and Martin McBride.
Kilby should have taken a one goal advantage into the half-time interval when, midway through the first half, a Colts defender misjudged a cross to the back post and the ball fell to Sean Winter, but his effort crashed off the crossbar.
Colts’ only real chance of the first half arrived just before the break when Stephen Kerr headed over from a corner.
But just three minutes into the second half, the hosts took a shock lead.
Craig Homes crossed from the right and picked out Mortimer at the back post to power a header past the despairing arms of Kilby keeper McGinley.
Mortimer fired wide as Colts went in search of a second, but Kilby were pushing for the equaliser and almost got it late on when the ball fell to youngster Michael Anderson, but his strike was deflected onto the bar and Cumbernauld held out for the victory.
It’s the earliest Kilby, who won the trophy in 2013/14 and 2016/17, have ever exited the competition.
And Stark was left cursing his side’s luck. He added: “Cumbernauld sat in and defended their lead very well and you have to give credit to them for that.
“But I felt we should have won the game.
“We hit the bar twice. Sean hit the bar early on and Matt had no saves to make in the second half.
“Anderson looked like he was scoring a certain goal, but their player has thrown himself in front of it and stopped him scoring.
“It’s a disappointing result, but our effort was exemplary.”
Stark will now try to lift his charges as they return to league action this weekend.
Kilby trail leaders BSC Glasgow by two points and head to Selkirk on Saturday, hoping to put pressure on them and second-place Spartans.
Kick-off at Yarrow Park is 3pm.