WISHAW ENJOY DERBY DELIGHT
Bonny dispatched in a hard-fought encounter
Wishaw Juniors ..................... 3 Shotts Bon Accord ................. 2
Michael Temlett Wishaw Juniors took the early season bragging rights following a hard-fought Central League Cup win over local rivals Shotts Bon Accord.
The Bonny, who are set to play Wishaw twice in the Central District First following their relegation last season, knew a victory would mean they finished above Wishaw.
But the Beltane Park side – who had John Fallon in the dugout – managed to seal the win thanks to a late Ryan Smillie winner.
Joe Coffey and Vinnie McGuire also netted for the hosts whilst Danny Burns and Kit Cumming scored for Shotts.
The game started off at a frantic pace with Wishaw awarded a penalty on three minutes after Ryan Kennedy handled the ball in the box.
But Shotts stopper Johnny Murdoch pulled off a great spotkick save to deny Smillie before Dan Kindlan then tested the keeper with a cross-cum-shot.
It was end to end stuff though and Gavin MacPherson tested Sandy Thomson in the Wishaw goal with a set piece straight from the training ground.
But the deadlock was eventually broken by Coffey as he slipped his marker and was left to tap in at the back post.
The second half started in a similar fashion to the first as the referee poited to the spot for a Kennedy handball and this time McGuire made no mistake and doubled Wishaw’s lead.
Dan Kindlan was then ordered off for two yellow cards in the space of a few minutes and the game started to turn on its head.
Shotts pulled one back as Max McKee and Cummings linked up well with Burns who calmly slotted past Thomson to make it 2-1.
Cummings then headed an equaliser as Kieran McGuinness’ men looked to go on and find a winner.
But after McGuire played a prefectly weighted pass in to Smillie, he managed to find a winner for Wishaw and send them to the top of the League Cup section.
Shotts still have one game left to play in the League Cup campaign against Carluke Rovers tonight (Wednesday) before their season starts away to East Kilbride Thistle this Saturday.
Wishaw meanwhile, are relying on Newmains to stop Gartcairn Juniors winning tonight (Wednesday) if they have any chance of qualifying for the quarter finals.
John Brogan’s side start the season away to Yoker Athletic on Saturday.