Whitburn miss chance to make fourth round

Dec 29 2011 by Kieran Westbrook, West Lothian Courier

own-goal.

Glentanar were handed a late equaliser when Andy Gordon turned the ball into his own net.

The Burnie must now travel to Aberdeen for a showdown on New Year’s Eve.

But despite the chunk of luck afforded to the Aberdeen side at Albyn Park, Lee reckons a draw was the right result.

He said: “It’s a bit of a nightmare scenario now, but I think both teams deserved to draw.

“They had a few good chances to score before they did and it was a pretty even game.

“The weather really didn’t help things and it was hard to play football.

“Hopefully the conditions will be better second time round.”

An outrageous 40-yard free-kick from Alan Mooney swirled in the wind and sailed into the top corner, leaving Glentanar goalie Neil McLennan helpless. Benefiting from the strong wind at their backs, Burnie nearly doubled their lead when Scott Meldrum cut inside and from the edge of the box hit a great shot which McLennan pushed round the post for a corner.

Glentanar came out a revitalised side in the second half with the wind advantage – and they made it count.

Rhys Gray fired inches wide early in the second half.

And Glentanar’s Muirhead came closer when he forced a good save from Frannie Carlin.

Minutes later it was Burnie on the attack when Keith Rennie sent in a teasing cross which Bryan King was inches away from before Glentanar cleared the danger.

With time running out, Carlin made a great save to deny a Morrison header from a corner.

It looked as though Burnie had weathered the storm until Glentanar were awarded a free-kick four minutes into injury time after Swan was adjudged to have handled.

Gray fired in the free-kick which Burnie defender Andy Gordon sliced past his own keeper to hand the visitors a replay, and Whitburn a long trip north on Hogmanay.

The winner of the replay take on Kelty Hearts in the fourth round.