AMATEUR FOOTBALL

TEN CLUBS PROGRESS IN SCOTTISH CUP

Apart from a couple of ties Midlands clubs avoided each other at the first round stage of the Scottish Amateur Cup on Saturday and 10 of the 18 involved went through at the first time of asking, writes our Amateur correspondent.

In the case of the others there were two postponements, one draw and five defeats.

There were some good away wins in the bunch with AHSFPs’ 2-0 victory at Balmoral and Shotz’ 5-4 defeat of Coupar Angus probably the pick. The High’s win came via Kieran Lyons and Scott Nairn efforts, while Shotz’ four were credited to McCagh (2), Ross Riddell and Dale Findlay. The four main Premier League contenders – Menzieshill, Fintry, Lowson United and Broughty United – also had a successful day. Equal top in the day’s goal tally were the first mentioned, cracking in seven against Rattray in a 7-2 win. The champions were followed home by Fintry whose visit to Kirriemuir yielded six goals from Kieran Small (2), Ryan Kenneth, Greg Cushnie, Dan Smith and Greg Birmingham, with the match ending 6-1 Lowson were pitted against DUSC of the Saturday Morning League and bagged four without reply through Craig Simpson (2), Keiron Crighton and Kyle Clark, while Broughty’s tie with Occidental ended 4-1 in the Premier side’s favour thanks to Nik Mann, Greg Houston and Chris Bannan hits.

Connor Kennedy got Morgan Academy FPs’ away tie off to a good start with a first-minute goal against Merpro.

But after that a defensive collapse by the visitors saw the Montrose men knock in seven through Greig (2), Whyte, Aitken, McDougall, Spink and Petrie to equal Hill’s tally of seven. Finavon kept the Midlands bandwagon rolling with a 4-3 defeat of Cairdy Thistle.

Jack Easson (2), Sam Davidson and a Luke Davidson penalty were the goals that mattered there. There were also successes for Wellbank with a good 3-2 win over Ballinluig, and Newport who defeated Kelso 4-2. Carnoustie Panmure YM and Cairdy Thistle ended up 1-1 and was the only drawn game of the day.

Allan Jarrett got YM’s goal in a game they dominated from the start. Elsewhere, Lochee United, Tayside Fire Brigade, and FC Polonia exited the Scottish with Firies’ 5-4 defeat by St John’s the closest of the three.