Whitburn FC end Thistle’s cup hopes

Oct 16 2008 by Alistair Watson, West Lothian Courier

WHITBURN progressed to the second round of the Citylink Scottish Junior Cup with an impressive 3-1 away win at East Kilbride Thistle.

With East Kilbride’s ground being utilised for another event, the game had to be switched to Blantyre Vic’s ground – a heavy surface that made it difficult for both teams. However, the terrible conditions were the same for both sides.

Whitburn were dominant throughout the match, but it was a five-minute goalrush just before half-time that lit up the game, as Burn took the lead in the 40th minute through a well worked goal from Alex Lurinsky.

A high ball was headed on by Doig for Lurinsky to collect inside the box before turning and slotting the ball low into the corner of the net.

But Thistle equalised within a couple of minutes, when Gareth Davies sent in a sublime curling shot.

Then, just before the break, Kenny Hannah drove the ball home after controlling it on his chest to give Whitburn a half-time lead.

From then on, though, the East Kilbride goal led a charmed life, but just before the full-time whistle Lurinsky tapped the ball into the net to make it 3-1.

East Kilbride: McDonald, Brophy, Cunning, Sangster, Daly, Kelly, Ballantyne, Orr, Davies, Watson, Woods, Subs, Donaldson, Williamson, McRae, Feeney, Cuddihy.

Whitburn: Walker, S Murphy, Leiper, MacKay, McGurk, Donnelly, Hannah, Doig, Lurinsky, Strickland, Dolan, Subs, McNelis, J Murphy, D Murphy, Mooney.

BROXBURN had a fine 2-1 win against Downfield in a replayed first-round tie, with goals from Barry Craig and Chic Pearson, while Livingston paid a heavy price for having three key players missing and crashed out 7-1 at home to Super League Bonnyrigg Rose, with Scott Bradford scoring the consolation.