Arbroath set up Bairns tie with cup replay win

ARBROATH

Mckenna 26; Linn 54; Stewart 64

AUCHINLECKTALBOT

3

0

Arbroath saw off Junior side Auchinleck Talbot 3-0 in their Scottish Cup replay at Gayfield to set up a home tie with Falkirk early in the new year.

Michael Mckenna, who rescued Dick Campbell’s side with a late penalty in Saturday’s 1-1 draw, edged the Red Lichties into a first-half lead with Bobby Linn and substitute Scott Stewart adding goals after the break.

Talbot took the game to their hosts in the early stages and Dwayne Hyslop headed over on ten minutes before sending a similar effort wide two minutes later.

Arbroath’s first opening came through Luke Donnelly midway through the first half with a drive from the edge of the box, however Andy Leishman was equal to it.

That chance marked the game turning the way of the home side and Linn went close with a shot that just cleared the bar shortly afterwards.

It was a case of third time lucky for the hosts with 26 minutes played when Miko Virtanen released Omar Kader and his cross was turned in from close range by Mckenna.

Campbell’s men pushed for a second before the break but Donnelly’s effort was saved by Leishman and Virtanen sent a shot past following a corner.

Arbroath increased their lead nine minutes into the second half when Linn accepted a pass from Colin Hamilton and fired a shot low into the net.

Mark Whatley thought he had grabbed another goal for the hosts two minutes later but his effort was ruled out for offside.

The third was only delayed until 65 minutes when Stewart marked his introduction within a minute by putting Arbroath out of sight with a snap shot.

Auchinleck continued to probe and Jack Mcdowall headed over and Keir Samson was unlucky when he nodded just wide from a free-kick.