Trip to final is run of all runs

STEPHEN SWIFT praised Stephen Barr for stepping in between the sticks after even food poisoning couldn’t upset BSC Glasgow’s cup run.

His outfit set up a League Cup Final against East Stirling on Sunday with a 4-1 win over Stirling Uni.

Although it only came after Swift was forced to ring the changes before and during their semi-final show.

He said: “It was ups and downs from start to finish as our keeper Ryan Marshall called off with food poisoning.

“My centre-half Ross Smith pulled out in the warm-up. Then, when we were cruising 2-0, my captain Ross McMillan came off injured. And we had Robbie McNab suspended. It wasn’t a great start to the day due to so many players missing and 4-1 probably flattered us for Stirling had plenty of endeavour.”

Martin Grehan headed home three minutes in before McMillan nodded a 26thminute second after his shot cannoned off the crossbar.

Dominic Slattery’s header made it 2-1 at half-time only for team-mate Angus Mailer to deflect in Carlo Pignatiello’s cross before the provider turned scorer from 25 yards.

Swift said: “We’re in the final of a cup, finished second in the league, got the furthest we’ve been in the Scottish Cup when we reached the third round, so we’re doing well. We have to be happy with our season and a win and a trophy would make it a great couple of years’ work.

“We battered Stirling in the first 20 minutes but we had to reshuffle, they got a goal back, could have equalised and even have gone ahead.

“But my stand-in keeper Stephen had a couple of great saves so credit to him. He stood up and had a great day. Our quality on the break told – they couldn’t keep up with us.”

In the other semi-final, Adam Corbett put Spartans one up only for Connor Greene to tuck home a rebound then Steven Brisbane to make it 2-1 to Shire.