’Dale dumped out of the West Cup

IT WAS a testament to Carradale’s grit that SAFL premier side St Joseph’s took 27 minutes to find their home net.

There was a warning in the 18th minute when a good St Joe’s strike came crashing off the bar and it was clear the visitors were in for a hard afternoon.

With eight teenagers in the Andrew Smith and Sons-sponsored side, it was obviously going to be a difficult game, especially as the Duntocher team had a 20-strong squad who were all equally good.

Neutralise

Carradale started with a back four and sweeper behind to try to neutralise St Joe’s threepronged attack.

In the first five minutes, Carradale got a couple of corners but were unable to convert them into goals and it was not long before St Joe’s pushed the Carradale youngsters back.

In what looked from the sidelines like an offside, St Joe’s big number nine fired hard in the net to score the first. Carradale clung on for another 17 minutes until just before the break when a free kick out square at the six-yard line was headed in, again by the number nine.

Too bad

At that point, going into the break 2-0 down, it did not look too bad.

However, only eight minutes into the second half St Joe’s added a third.

A link on the right side found their centre midfielder number six and he slammed a low shot past the despairing Neil McMillan, who made a number of fine saves during the tie to lessen ’Dale’s losses.

The tired players’ legs now collapsed as St Joe’s collected five more goals in the final dozen minutes.

Man of the match was Ewan McIlroy.

Tomorrow (Saturday) Carradale face Bellaire AFC at Kinloch Park on the 3G AWP. Kickoff is at 2pm.

Elsewhere in the West of Scotland Cup, Campbeltown Pupils went down 3-2 to the Paisley and District League leaders Fordbank Star AFC, who have now won five games on the spin.

Shock result

A Pupils spokesperson said: ‘It was a shock result, nevertheless, as we were expected to progress. We are very disappointed with the result.’

This week the Pupils face Drumchapel Colts in an important away Premier League fixture.