SWEET RELIEF
Hibs are made to work for win over Lowland League side but quality shines through in end
MARC McNULTY walked away with the match ball, Hibernian took their place in the last eight of the Scottish Cup and the history books will record a predictable, seemingly comfortable triumph.
Yet this victory over BSC Glasgow, played amid the ceaseless whipping gale of Storm Ciara, was anything but a breeze for the capital club.
For large swathes of this contest, it was impossible to detect the gulf of four divisions between the clubs. That was partly attributable to the woeful conditions — described as ‘borderline farcical’ by Hibs manager Jack Ross — but also due to the laudable efforts of the admirable amateurs.
Ross Smith’s headed goal, which reduced arrears to 2-1 following a clinical McNulty brace, was the least the Broomhill amateurs deserved, while they will ruefully reflect on passable opportunities spurned by Tom Collins and Thomas Orr.
Hibs’ quality ultimately told when McNulty completed his hat-trick and Greg Docherty scored his first goal for the club since arriving on loan from Rangers after the winter break. However, the Lowland League side can hold their heads high.
Ross’ overriding emotion at full-time was one of relief.
‘I watched the games on Saturday and saw how difficult they were, so we knew that would be the case — and it was,’ said the Hibs boss following a successful return to the ground where he began his management career with Alloa.
‘It was okay when we arrived but, as the game progressed, it became borderline farcical.
‘I played at Broadwood with Clyde, so I am used to playing in the wind, but I think everyone could see the impact it had on the ball moving.’
BSC Glasgow’s starting line-up was a smorgasbord of Scottish Cup quirk.
Captain Ross McMillan, roofer, Jamie Mills, fireman, Jamie McCormack, gas engineer, and Declan Hughes, demolition worker, were among those seeking to craft one hell of an anecdote for their return to the day job on Monday morning.
‘History is overrated,’ read one banner at the Indodrill Stadium as BSC Glasgow, established in 2014, sought to create some of their own by becoming the first non-league side to reach the quarter-finals since Elgin City in 1967/68.
Their determination to do so was underlined during a bright opening, with Martin Grehan stinging the palms of Ofir Marciano from distance.
That would prove a false dawn for the hosts as Hibs broke the deadlock with their first attack of note. Martin Boyle surged forward and slipped a super pass through to McNulty, who clinically fired beyond Ryan Marshall for his first goal since returning to Easter Road on loan.
BSC, who have won 15 of their 19 Lowland League games this term, illustrated their attacking prowess when Orr forced a fantastic save from Marciano with a fizzing, low drive from the edge of the box.
While Stephen Swift’s men carried a threat, Hibs, and McNulty in particular, were devastatingly efficient. The Scotland striker controlled a Docherty delivery inside the box and fired beyond Marshall to double their advantage on the half-hour mark.
BSC deserved something to show for their efforts in the first period and rippled the net through former Scotland Under-19 cap Smith, who produced a wonderful back-post header to beat Marciano.
The delivery from Hughes, a man who ‘regularly puts Tom Brady to shame’ with his passing range, according to the club’s player profiles, lived up to the hype.
BSC livewire Orr was left howling for a penalty kick at the start of the second half when he appeared to be nudged in the back by Paul Hanlon as they chased a loose ball. Referee Alan Newlands remained unmoved.
Collins fluffed his lines when presented with a glorious opportunity to restore parity, sclaffing wide from ten yards after meeting a McCormack cross from the right-hand side.
Hibs’ only previous cup defeat to opposition outwith the league structure was 100 years ago — a 2-0 loss against Armadale — and they ensured that there would be no such ignominy in 2020 when McNulty scampered on to a sensational long pass from Docherty and kept his cool to beat Marshall again.
‘It’s great to score, of course, but the most important thing for me was to get 90 minutes,’ reflected hat-trick hero McNulty. ‘I know I need to get fitter and sharper — and that’ll happen with games.’
With hopes of an upset gone, legs became heavy and Hibs began to pick holes in their opponents. Christian Doidge hit the side-netting from a prohibitive angle after rounding Marshall, while Jamie Gullan forced a sharp save from the BSC custodian.
Gloss was applied to the scoreline when Docherty rolled into an empty net following a slick passing move involving Gullan and McNulty.