Lichties ease past The Bot into last 32

SCOTTISH CUP: Arbroath beat junior giants to seal home clash with Falkirk

ARBROATH 3 AUCHINLECK TALBOT 0

Arbroath secured a Scottish Cup clash with Falkirk after they finally saw off Auchinleck Talbot last night.

Goals from Michael Mckenna, Bobby Linn and Scott Stewart helped the Angus side to a comfortable win in the third round replay after they came within six minutes of crashing out of the tournament on Saturday.

The Ayrshire junior giants took an impressive travelling support to Gayfield and started brightly with Dwayne Hyslop twice coming close with headers in the opening 15 minutes.

In 11 minutes Hyslop rose to meet a Jamie Glasgow cross before looping a header over the top.

Then, unmarked in the box, he got on the end of another Glasgow cross only to have his downward header blocked by Lichties keeper Darren Jamieson.

It took Arbroath until the 24th minute to create a chance as Luke Donnelly’s low 20-yard effort was smothered by keeper Andy Leishman.

Arbroath had a strong claim for a penalty denied by referee David Lowe as Mckenna crashed to the deck under the challenge of William Lyle.

Mckenna was celebrating moments later as he got on the end of a clever cutback from Omar Kader to knock in from close range and make it 1-0.

Then it was The Bot’s turn to feel hard done by with Glasgow appearing to be brought down by Mark Whatley.

Once again Lowe refused to entertain the visitors’ appeals and Arbroath took a slender lead into the break.

The hosts almost doubled their advantage on 55 minutes as Leishman reached out to fingertip Linn’s effort wide. But Leishman was beaten by Linn moments later as the winger cut inside from the left to power into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

Arbroath were now in total command and sub Stewart sealed the win as he reacted quickest to fire home the rebound from a Donnelly shot.

It was an impressive win for the Gayfield side in the end but with a run of tough fixtures coming up against Ayr and both Dundee sides they will have their work cut out in the coming weeks. Attendance: 1,022.

Arbroath: Jamieson, Gold (Campbell 66), Little, O’brien, Hamilton, Kader, Whatley, Virtanen, Linn (Stewart 61), Mckenna, Donnelly (Spence 72). Subs not used: Doris, Swankie, Murphy, Stirling.

Auchinleck Talbot: Leishman, Lyle, Mcpherson, Mccracken, Pope, Glasgow (Shankland 71), White, Steven Wilson, Hyslop, Boylan (Mcdowall 61), Graham Wilson (Samson 61). Subs not used: Pearson, Aiden Wilson, Hewitt, Young.

Referee: David Lowe.

Michael Mckenna, left, and Bobby Linn were both on the scoresheet in Arbroath’s cup win. SNS.