Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Tayside clubs hold the edge in GA Cup
THERE was almost complete domination by Tayside clubs in their exchanges with sides from the North in the GA Cup.
Hermes’ penalty shootout win over Forfar WE was the North’s only success and, if Kirrie Thistle beat Newburgh Thistle in their postponed tie, Tayside will have seven out of eight through to the quarter-finals.
Broughty Athletic put their league form to one side as they ended a string of poor results with a 3-1 win at Culter.
It looked ominous for the Fed, however, with only three minutes on the clock and they found themselves behind when the hosts scored direct from a free-kick.
But within a minute, it was all square again when Jamie Winter levelled with a low shot from just inside the box.
The goal settled the Ferry side and they took the lead in 26 minutes when Kevin Buchan got on the end of a Winter free-kick and slammed the ball into the net. The Fed then scored a third on the half-hour mark when Ross McCord collected a Grant Lawson cross and shot home.
Violet manager Ralph Henderson was another happy man as the Pansies held their nerve to win a tight match at Hall Russell.
The Glenesk side dominated the first 45 minutes and fully deserved to go in ahead thanks to a Scott Tovey strike at half-time.
The hosts came back strongly in the second half but the Pansies defence stood firm and deserved their victory.
It was also tight at Fraserburgh where the home side and Harp couldn’t be separated after 90 minutes. It finished at 1-1 with Sam McDonald scoring for Harp.
However, the Beechwood side held their nerve in the penalty shootout and go through after a 4-2 win.
The decision to switch Tayport’s tie against Sunnybank to The Canniepairt paid off big time for the Fifers as they cruised to a 7-1 victory.
Alan Tulleth and Dale Reid helped themselves to hat-tricks while Marc Ogg also netted for the Fifers.
East Craigie always looked in control against Aberdeen East End and goals from Nik Mann and Liam McArtney gave them a comfortable 2-0 victory.
It was a similar story for Carnoustie who ran out 4-1 winners at home to Islavale.
Ryan Roche and Stephen Cook scored in the first half and Danny Millar and Jamie McCabe added two more in the second half.
Forfar West End swept into a 2-0 lead against Hermes after goals by Graham Hart and Craig Bell.
Hermes fought back to level but Matt Ramsay restored West End’s lead with five minutes to go. However, the visitors equalised once again to take the game to a shootout, which they won 3-2.