Cup game is no distraction
Shettleston ........... 0 Glencairn .............. 4
Any thoughts that Glencairn would see this Central League Cup tie as a distraction in regards to the promotion quest were very quickly wiped out.
The Glens blew away Shettleston in an opening half-hour blitz to secure their place in the third round.
Willie Harvey made five changes to the side which drew with Irvine Meadow. The suspended Ryan Docherty was replaced by Craig McGregor and goalkeeper KP McAllister was given a rare outing in place of JC Hutchison.
Craig Johnston came into midfield while Alessandro Savarese and Paddy Cullen started up front.
The Glens didn’t waste any time in stating their intentions in the game as they went on the front foot. They took the lead inside the opening minute when Stewart Hall squared the ball across goal where Savarese was waiting to slide in to fire home.
Cullen doubled the lead when he lifted the ball over the keeper from just outside the penalty area.
Shettleston were shocked into action and tried to respond but saw two shots saved by McAllister.
And just as the home side thought they were getting a foothold in the game, the match was effectively ended as a contest as Glencairn made it 3-0 with a breakaway goal in the 16th minute. Savarese’s shot hit the near post and the ball was not cleared from danger. It then fell to Craig Johnston who took a touch before picking his spot in the net.
Things got worse for the‘Town supporters as Glencairn incredibly made it 4-0 after only 27 minutes. The free-kick for the foul on Tony Fraser was lifted into the penalty area and when it was not dealt with by the home defence, Cullen linked with Jamie Hunter who drilled the ball past the keeper.
With a four-goal lead, it was not surprising the intensity of the second half did not match the first.
The best chance of the half came when persistent play down the right by Hall in the 69th minute ended with him setting up Savarese for a driven angled shot which flew just over the crossbar.