Pryce: Glens fought hard for the victory
NEILSTON ......................................... 1 RUTHERGLENGLENCAIRN ........... 1 (Glens win 5-4 on penalties)
Rutherglen Glencairn boss Joe Pryce says his side had to dig in for their eventual Strathclyde Demolition Cup quarter-final win at Neilston.
But the players and fans were given a pre-match boost by the return to the dug-out of boss Willie Harvey, ending a lengthy absence following a bout with Covid.
Glencairn thought they had won the tie when Fraser Malcolm netted with three minutes left, only for Darren Jones to level inside stoppage time.
Scott Schoneville, Reece Pearson, Callum Shields, Kierin Coleman and Kyle Chrystal all netted their spot-kicks, while keeper Scott McLellan saved one from Neilston to send his side through.
Pryce admitted it wasn’t a classic, but was pleased with the outcome.
He said: “I wouldn’t say it was a good performance, but it was a decent performance.
“We weren’t at our best, but the players had to work really hard, they dug in.
“Neilston are a good side, we always knew it was going to be tough, but the players dug in, got the late goal, and we thought that would be enough.
“But we gave away a wee sloppy goal in stoppage time.
“Then our goalie saved a penalty, so we’re delighted to be going into the semi-final.
“We’re in a decent wee place, seventh in the West of Scotland League Premier Division, and in the semi-final of the cup so we’re doing OK.”
Pryce added: “There weren’t really any goal-scoring opportunities for either team, we both just kind of cancelled each other out, but we knew we were going to have to battle.
“You never get anything easily at Neilston, but we had a couple of chances in the second half when their keeper puled off a couple of good saves.
“They had chances as well, but never hit the target, so when we got the late goal we thought ‘right, we’re going into stoppage time’.
“We gave away a goal due to a wee sloppy lapse of concentration.
“But the goalie redeemed himself in the penalty shoot-out, so it’s all good.
“Goalkeepers can win penalty shootouts, and ours did.”
Glencairn face a familiar face in Cumbernauld United boss Tony Fraser, who was previously a coach at the club.
Pryce said: “Tony’s in charge up there, so there will be no surprises.
“Tony will know absolutely everything about us, he’ll know the way we’re going to play, but we’re not going to change.
“We know it’s going to be a tough game, it always is at Cumbernauld, and in the division, but we’ll be ready for it.
“We’re on a bit of form, we’re in a good place and we’re doing all right, so it will be about how we approach the game.
“As long as the players do what they’ve been doing we will be OK.”