Chris hails Buffs’ comeback after cup howler
We dominated and the difficult thing for the players is when you’re playing well and lose a goal in a slight lapse in concentration, especially after last week, your character gets called into question.
“And they responded in bucketloads. They could have scored a lot more in the second half but the enthusiasm and willingness to get on the ball and make passes on a difficult surface was there.”
Strain declared his men “stepped up to any questions asked of them” after last week’s third-round exit. And with several rivals seeing their cup clashes enter another week due to call-offs, he added: “I suppose one thing we’ve got in our favour is we can concentrate on the league – we’ve not got any cups to worry about.
“We’ l l just concentrate on ourselves. If we get above our station – as we did last week – you can end up with egg on your face.”
McKenzie drilled Arthurlie in front after careless defending saw Kilwinning robbed of possession.
Michael Daly headed No. 2 five minutes later only for the linesman’s flag to deny him, an offside call Lie boss Billy Ogilvie wasn’t happy with.
Kilwinning’s half appeared to be summed up when Carlo Monti’s freekick was blocked by one of his teammates only for Wardrope to find the top bag inside the final minute.
Whoever was in charge of the sound system was in the Christmas spirit with Andy Williams’ classic “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” ringing around the ground.
And Boylan gave the home fans reason to believe as much inside a minute of the restart, nodding Monti’s cross home at the back post.
The Junior Scotland call-up shook the back of the net with a stunning volley only for it to be controversially chalked off for offside, although his second did arrive in 66 minutes when he met another Monti cross.
Nisbet drilled home five minutes from time before the ref sent Latta off for giving opposition players the middle finger in the wake of a bustup over Buffs not kicking the ball out with McKenzie on the deck.
Lie sit third bottom with one win in nine but Ogilvie – appointed four weeks ago – said: “There has certainly been a lot of progress so I’m pleased the way it’s going.
“The scoreline was a wee bit harsh. As long as you’re seeing progress there’s nothing to worry about and that’s what we’re seeing.”