Gunnion: We can’t allow cup blow to knock our confidence
Scott Sutherland netted for Swifts Jeanfield Swifts were knocked out of the Scottish Junior Cup on Saturday after falling to a 3-2 defeat at home to Hermes.
The visitors netted in the last minute of the game to head back to Aberdeenshire in high spirits and Riverside manager Ross Gunnion admits the result was a fair one.
Daniel Kelly and Scott Sutherland were the scorers for Swifts.
“I felt we got what we deserved out of the game to be honest,”Gunnion told the Perthshire Advertiser.“Hermes were better on the day and showed more desire to win the game.
“Too many of our players were below par and it looked like we were a yard or two off the pace for most of the game.
“It’s disappointing as I don’t for one minute believe that Saturday was a true reflection of our team and our capabilities.
“It was a very good opportunity to go into the later rounds of a competition which is the biggest at our level of the game.”
The cup exit will give Swifts a sole focus on league duty but Gunnion said: “It is one viewpoint to suggest that it gives us nothing but the league to focus on now.
“But I believe cup runs build confidence. Conversely exiting them in the manner we did can dent confidence.
“We have no game this week so we’ll endeavour to pick ourselves up and that starts on Wednesday night with a friendly against Oakley.”
LUNCARTY kept the Perthshire flag flying high in the Scottish Junior Cup at the weekend.
The Bleachers defeated Rosyth 3-2 in a hard-fought encounter at Brownlands Park with home goals from Robbie Miller, Jamie Reid and Richard Doig.
Manager Jon Kelly was delighted with the character and determination shown by his side, who are the only local team left in the competition.
“Saturday was a great day for the club as a whole,”Kelly said.“Rosyth were a very decent side and I knew we would need to be at the top of our game to get the result we wanted.
“The boys were well worth their win as they really took the game to Rosyth from the first whistle. The work rate and passion that was shown were second to none.
“And if the team keeps that level of intensity up then they will give most teams problems.”
The fourth round draw has already taken place and Luncarty have been handed an away trip to take on Cumbernauld United.
Kelly said:“We now have a tie to look forward to in January which will be a huge day for the club. Cumbernauld away from home will be a very tough test for us but it’s something we won’t fear at all.
“We will be going down there looking to get the win. That is for sure. It would be good if we can drum up some support and get a few buses going down to cheer the lads on too.”
COUPAR ANGUS manager Logan McConachie believes teams will be sitting up and taking notice of the football being played by his side.
The Foxhall Park squad stunned the North Division at the weekend by battling to a deserved point against local rivals BLAIRGOWRIE.
Joe Sturrock fired Coupar ahead before Blair forward Allan Cruickshank levelled the game just after the half-hour mark. The hosts nudged back ahead before the break through Daniel Neath.
The lead was increased to 3-1 as Blair Fleming got his name on the scoresheet. Blairgowrie, however, earned a point with two more goals from Cruickshank.
“We were so close in taking all three points but we ran out of steam in the last 15 minutes or so,”McConachie said.
“We went out to make sure that our local rivals never took our club lightly again and I think we definitely did that.
“We’re getting better each week. The guys have had some flak for their league position but the reality is that every time we are on the park the football we play is very good.
“I’ve worked with some really good teams but this Coupar Angus team is one that is growing in confidence each week and they will be a force to be reckoned with every week from now on.”
KINNOULL jumped back to the top of the North Division at the weekend following a comfortable 3-1 victory against Brechin Vics.
It was a first half of football which ended without score but the Tulloch Park side took a deserved lead in the 53rd minute through Alan Ferguson.
Fives minutes later Noull had doubled their advantage. This time Robbie Norrie was on hand to find the back of the net. Forward Rhys Davies added a third to put the game out of sight.
To their credit Vics battled for the remainder and got on the scoresheet. Ryan Young was the scorer.
Kinnoull defender Tom Whyte was sent off in the last minute of the game after picking up a second yellow card.
There was a resounding away victory for SCONE THISTLE on Saturday, who smashed six past NEWBURGH without reply.
Craig Mitchell, Abi Njie, Kevin Sinclair and a hat-trick from forward Fraser Mills did the damage on a productive afternoon’s work for the Jags.
Scone sit fifth in the North Division.