EK really step up to the Challenge
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game is far from ideal and you could see that affected them a bit.
“But I know how good this squad is and, even although we made a number of changes, I knew we would come back.
“Civil Service are a good side. I watched them against BSC Glasgow the other week and I felt they were unlucky not get something (they lost 2-1), so I knew they would pose a threat.
“But winning becomes a habit and with the run we’ve been on the players always had the belief they could win the game.
“We probably could have scored more in the end, but 2-1 is a fair reflection of the game.”
Kilby made nine changes from the side that beat Stirling University last week, leaving out the majority of the regular defensive line up with skipper Barry Russell, regular right back Fabio Capuano and centre-back Dom McLaren among those rested.
Civil Service took a shock lead on the half-hour mark when Stephen Fround hammered home an unstoppable drive from 20 yards.
Their lead last a mere eight minutes, though, as the Strollers keeper spilled Joao Victoria’s cross and Declan Hughes pounced to prod home the equaliser from close range.
Lauchlan brought on Adam Strachan for Ross McNeil and the midfielder made his mark after an hour with a great solo effort, cutting inside before drilling the ball into the bottom corner to deliver Kilby’s 10th straight win of the season in all competitions.
With East Kilbride safely into round two, attention now turns to Saturday’s Scottish Cup first round clash with Vale of Leithen.
It’s an all-Lowland League affair at K-Park and Lauchlan is relishing making his bow in the competition as a manager, after appearing for Partick Thistle and Dunfermline as a player.
The 35-year-old said: “The Scottish Cup is a special tournament and I’m really looking forward to Saturday.
“I’ve played in it as a player, so it will be interesting to see how it feels as a manager.
“But there’s a real spring in everyone’s step around the club because we know this game is coming.
“Being a Scottish Cup game it adds a bit of spice to things, it gets the butterflies in the stomach going and there’s usually more fans for these occasions.”
Asked if he felt any extra pressure after the club’s success in last season’s competition, Lauchy said: “Obviously, the club did really well to get as far as playing Celtic, but I’m not looking any further than Vale of Leithen.
“They are on a good run themselves and I’ll be sticking to what I’ve been doing all season - taking one game at a time.”