Pumphy progress after scare
Pumpherston progressed to the third round of the Scottish Junior Cup after coming from behind to beat Forfar Albion at Recreation Park, writes Peter Stewart.
The home side were firm favourites and they lived up to expectations early on. Neil Hastings saw his scuffed effort cleared off the line after five minutes, while Ally McRitchie and Barry Nicholson both went close.
But Forfar hadn’t read the script and took the lead after 14 minutes, Scott Gordon sliding to finish a low cross. For the next half hour, Albion were happy to sit in and soak up Pumphy pressure.
Then a minute before the break, McRitchie was pulled down in the penalty area. He stepped up only to see his shot saved – but the striker was alert to tuck home the rebound.
Although expected to come back out and dominate, the home side remained frustrated in the second period. McRitchie was denied a second when judged offside, while Darren Carroll produced an air-shot from close range.
Pumpherston were rewarded for their persistence 12 minutes from time, however. Jack Beaumont lined up a free-kick 25 yards out and, having seen a similar effort denied moments before, curled an inchperfect strike into the net.
It only took two minutes for the advantage to be doubled, and it was another beauty as Levi Kinchant went on a mazy run down the right flank, and, eluding several challenges, drove into the box. He had options in the middle but instead fired an emphatic right-foot shot into the far corner. An impressive and dogged Pumpherston deserved to triumph.