AMATEUR FOOTBALL

ATHLETIC TAKE ANOTHER SCALP Congratulations to Douglas Athletic who joined the elite band of last 16 contestants in the Scottish Amateur Cup after taking another high profile scalp in the shape of Milton AFC of the mighty Caledonian League on Saturday writes our Amateurs correspondent.

Bob McKenzie’s boys might have had their hands full in the first half as the visitors played some tidy football. But a penalty for handball on 15 minutes converted by Athletic’s Scott Ritchie seemed to restrain the side on the front foot.

Milton had a chance just before halftime but the ball was ballooned over the bar from close range.

Some positional changes for Athletic meant that things levelled off in the second 45 minutes, with the scoreline remaining 1-0 until late on. Then Lyall Murdoch had a chance to convert but his powerful strike smashed off the visiting keeper’s face and went over the top.

Several minutes’ attention was needed for the man between the sticks to recover and when the corner was eventually taken Murdoch rose above the rest to head home to make it two.

This was a great victory for the Dundee side with the round seven draw now eagerly awaited.

A tip-off that the winners might want to avoid Harestanes or Dumbarton Academy when the draw is made will not really prove too concerning for the Midlands men after putting out the holders a few weeks back. The other Midland’s contenders, Lowson United, had an away draw to Stenhousemuir Community and this advantage was enough for the home side to record a 2-0 win. United, however, can take much heart from their great run which will be spoken about for many a day. They can now focus on promotion to the Premier League and will have noted that two of their main rivals were winning their Division 1 matches again on Saturday. Montrose AFC knocked home 16 against Kirriemuir Thistle who responded once.

AHSFP needed the entire 90 minutes against Harp in the Arbroath derby before winning 3-2. A brace from Callum Beattie and a late effort from Richard Swan saw the FPs home. In the Premier there were victories for Barnhill, Tayside Fire Brigade and Morgan FPs.

Goals from Richard Souter (pen), Michael Jorgenson, David Salisbury and Stuart Brankin gave Hill a 4-1 win at Invergowrie with TFB’s goals from Kevin Rankin (2) and Sean Hearn good enough to defeat Portcullis 3-0.

In the last few weeks Broughty United has come from 3-0 and 2-0 deficits to record wins. Down 3-0 to Morgan Academy was another challenge with goals from Mark McGuire in 70 minutes and one from Ryan Carling in the last minute seeing them fall just short of a treble escape. Robbie Christie(2) and Connor Kennedy had given the FPs the head start they just needed.