Win gives EKYM a shot at cup history
East KilbrideYM have reached the quarter-final of the Scottish Amateur Cup for the first time in over 20 years.
The Caledonian Premier League side beat 10-man Gartcosh 3-0 on Saturday to book a last-eight tie at home to Tollcross Thistle on February 29.
A Craig Tocher double and a header from Cammy McCulloch (pictured, left) did the damage.
And now they are hoping to create a bit of history by becoming the first EK side to reach the semi-finals.
YM gaffer Graeme Robertson said:“We are delighted to get through.
“The squad has done really well this season. Our main aim was to stay in the Premier League, so to get to the quarterfinals of the cup as well is fantastic for the club and East Kilbride.
“We believe the team hasn’t made it this far since the 1990s under John McClymont and ourselves and Claremont AFC are the only teams from the town ever to reach the quarter-finals.
“Nobody has reached the semi-finals, so we’d love to go a bit further.”
The quarter-final will be played at Hamilton Palace and Robertson added:“Any team you face in the quarter-finals is going to be tough, but Tollcross Thistle are top of the Edinburgh
League, so we’ll be doing well to progress. But we’ll give it our best shot.”
GARTCOSH ........................................... 0 EAST KILBRIDE YM ............................. 3
East Kilbride YM cruised into the quarter-finals of the Scottish Amateur Cup on Saturday.
A Craig Tocher brace and a Cammy McCulloch header took care of 10-man Gartcosh, who also had a penalty saved by YM keeper Graeme McMillan.
The win has set up a last-eight tie with Tollcross Thistle at the end of the month.
Gartcosh started strongly, threatening from long throw-ins, but YM responded with a Ryan Kelly strike that whistled past the post.
McDonagh was a real problem for the Gartcosh defence and it was his delivery across the face of goal that put the ball on a plate for Tocher to net the opener.
Controversy raged a few minutes later when Tocher turned past his defender and was pulled down. The referee judged it to be deserving of a red card, reducing Gartcosh to ten men.
The hosts were furious with the decision but worse was to follow. From the resultant free kick, David Kneale’s ball into the box was headed clear but Craig Fry was waiting outside the box and his volley was superbly tipped over the bar. The corner that followed from Kneale was headed home by McCulloch to double YM’s advantage.
In the opening attack of the second half Gartcosh were awarded a penalty as the ball struck the hand of a YM defender, but keeper Graeme McMillan did superbly to save Pettigrew’s spot kick.
Gartcosh tried valiantly to get back into the match, but as they pushed forward YM were hitting them on the break and Tocher was unfortunate to see an effort come back off the upright.
He was not to be denied, however. Following a good break forward by Kneale, Tocher collected the ball wide left and cut inside to beat the keeper from close range with a low strike.
The club now look forward to a home tie with Tollcross, who currently sit top of the Lothian and Edinburgh Premier League, on Saturday, February 29.
This Saturday YM have another important fixture when they play St. Mungo FPs at Dalziel in the semi final of the League Cup, kick-off 1pm.
• Meanwhile, YM’s GGPL side lost 2-0 to Dumbarton St Pats and this week travel to Cambria in the league.
YM 35s lost their pre-season friendly against Possil YM 4-2, with Ryan Kelly and Zander McMillan on target.