Poor second half costs Wishaw dear
Wishaw Juniors ....... 0 Glencairn ................. 2
Lindsay Robertson Two second- half goals saw Wishaw tumble out of the Ardagh Group West of Scotland Cup on Saturday at a rainsoaked Beltane.
Wishaw survived an early scare on 12 minutes when Simeon skipped past Canning on the way to goal and was brought crashing to the ground.
Another referee might have seen it differently but the Wishaw player just picked up a yellow card for the challenge.
Simeon was at it again soon after when a headed flick on from Smith saw the player scamper into the box but his shot hit the heel of a defender and went just wide. Wishaw’s first real effort came around the 20-minute mark when a clearance saw Duffy intercept and knock a cushioned pass to the feet of Eadie who fired a powerful effort that flew just wide.
Simeon was still causing problems and once more raced clear into the Wishaw box before rounding keeper Brown. It seemed likely he would score but the ball was blocked before it ran clear to Mckay who sent the rebound over.
At the other end, Wishaw’s Watson got a shot away from around 25 yards that flew a yard wide.
The second half started in scrappy fashion with the rain getting heavier and both sides giving the ball away.
The opening effort fell again to Simeon who fired off an effort after Smith had set him up but Brown parried the shot .
Just on the hour mark, Glens’ Smith should have done better when getting above everyone to get his head on a Mcardle cross but he headed wide.
Two minutes later the visitors did go ahead. Keeper Brown was adjudged to have brought a Glens player down as he tried to go around him near the byline. The Wishaw keeper picked himself up and dived low to his left to parry the spot kick behind. The keeper must have felt let down by his defence as, after saving the penalty, he watched as the corner found unmarked Mckay in the six-yard box to score with a well-paced header.
Wishaw tried to get back on terms and Rodden got an effort on target that was blocked away to safety as he forced his way into the box.
On 73 minutes, Rutherglen doubled their lead. Substitute Mitchell collected a loose ball at the edge of the box and laid it back into the path of Mccardle who sent a powerful shot past Brown.
Rodden forced keeper Whyte to dive full length to push away a shot as Wishaw tried to claw their way back into the tie.
Rodden then got a foot to a deep cross to turn it back across goal where a Glencairn defender produced a superb clearance from almost under his own bar before it could be forced home as Wishaw exited the cup.
Match ball was sponsored by Gareth’s Snack Box on Kitchener Street.