Middleton on mark twice to give Newton a final slot
South of Scotland goal ace Robert Middleton hit two goals for NEWTON STEWART to dump Lowland outfit GRETNA 2008 out of the Southern Counties Challenge Cup – the premier trophy in the South of Scotland.
Manager Bryan Gilfillan, who is stepping down after this, their final game, had been hoping to end his year with the club with silver, but Newton had other ideas. The Anvils, who just escaped the threat of relegation for the second-bottom club after Highland champions Buckie Thistle were thrown out of the SPFL play-offs last week, had been looking to reach the final after last week’s 6-1 quarter-final win over Dalbeattie Star, another South side and former Lowland team, relegated a year ago. But it was a different story this week, despite the Creesiders finding themselves a goal down after 16 minutes when Dean Brotherston broke through and put his side into the lead. They had several more chances in the first half, but turned round with only a goal to show. Newton shocked them two minutes after the restart when Middleton latched on to a short passback and slid the ball home for the equaliser and his 41st goal of the season. It was goal ace Middleton who struck again three minutes from time when he fired homefora2-1winandaplacein the final for his side. Newton, who finished in third spot in the South League table, will now take on cup holders Caledonian Braves, who hit five goals last week to book their in the final, which will be held later this month at a venue still to be announced.
LOCHAR THISTLE celebrated winning their second trophy of the season when they beat QUEEN OF THE SOUTH in the final of the Potts Cup at Islecroft Stadium, Dalbeattie. Thistle scored early on in the game and held on to their lead to win 1-0 to add to their South of Scotland League Cup, which they won last month when they beat Dalbeattie Star 3-2 in a thriller at Palmerston Park. Lochar got the winner on the 13-minute mark when winger Marcus Zygadlo finished off in a goalmouth skirmish. They have a chance to make it a hat-trick of trophies on Friday evening when they clash with Dalbeattie Star in the final of the Tweedie Cup at Palmerston Park. DALBEATTIE, who are two points clear at the top of the South of Scotland League, need just one point in the final league game of the season on Wednesday when they travel to second-placed CREETOWN at Castle Cary Park. The champions will then go into the Lowlad League play-offs involving the West of Scotland champions and Broxburn Athletic, who have already won the East of Scotland Championship.