PRAISE FOR JAGS DESPITE CUP EXIT
Penalty shootout pain for EK at higher-ranked Renfrew
RENFREW ................................................ 1 EK THISTLE ............................................. 1
PAUL THOMSON
Gary Hamilton reckons his East Kilbride Thistle side put in their best display of the season in their West of Scotland Cup defeat to Renfrew.
The Jags bowed out 5-4 on penalties after Ryan Barrett had cancelled out Craig Dallas’ opener for Renfrew with a last-gasp penalty kick, forcing the shootout.
David Bannerman blazed his kick over the bar for Thistle to send Renfrew into round two, but Hamilton was full of praise for his side.
He said: “That’s the best we’ve played this season.
“We had seven players missing, but the boys who came in did well and worked very hard against a side a league above us.
“If we play like that every week in the league, we’ll not be far away.
“I’m delighted with the attitude and application the players put in.
“Renfrew are a Championship side but they never really troubled us. We were very comfortable defensively and our front three caused them problems.
“Our keeper only had one save to make in the whole 90 minutes.
“Apart from Davie’s penalty miss, where it looked like he was playing rugby instead of football, I can’t really fault them. I’m delighted.”
Barrett and William Davies both had opportunities in the first half to put Thistle in front, but they couldn’t find the back of the net.
In the second half, Craig Scott missed an open goal from two yards on 65 minutes and seven minutes from time Renfrew took the lead when Davies lost control of the ball and Renfrew broke up the park forDallas to fire home.
Thistle pushed for the equaliser and duly got it in the final minute from the penalty spot. The Renfrew centre back was penalised for handball and Barrett converted the spot-kick to take the tie to a penalty shootout.
But Bannerman’s miss means Thistle have fallen at the first hurdle and are not out of all cup competitions following round one exits in the Sectional League Cup and Junior Cup.
On Saturday they return to league business when they host Greenock, kick-off 1.45pm at the Showpark.
Hamilton reckons good display from both sides in the cups over the weekend, shows they are better than many would give them credit for.
He added: “Greenock had a great result in the cup on Saturday, beating Gartcairn.
“If they can do that and we can take Renfrew – sitting third top in the Championship – to penalties, then I think it shows there’s not much between our two leagues.”
Thistle will be looking to build on their good home form of late, following backto-back wins at the Showpark against Wishaw and Glasgow Perthshire.
“We’ve won our last two home games, so we need to start making the Showpark a fortress this season and build from there,” said Hamilton.
“We’ve won our last two games there with clean sheets.
“We need to assert ourselves more against teams like this because we’ve got a lot of tricky games coming up against teams above us (Greenock, Shettleston and Bellshill), so it’s a big few weeks ahead.
“I think we’ve got a point to prove, but I’m looking forward to it.”