Cumbernauld stroll through to quarter-finals

Cumbernauld United eased into the last eight of the Central League Cup with a comfortable 4-1 third round victory at East Kilbride Thistle on Saturday.
Cumbernauld bounced back from their Kilwinning defeat against EK.Cumbernauld bounced back from their Kilwinning defeat against EK.
Cumbernauld bounced back from their Kilwinning defeat against EK.

The win set up a home quarter-final tie against Greenock which will be played at Guy’s Meadow on Saturday, kick-off 2pm.

There was a decent turnout in glorious sunshine at Showcase Park and with league status secure for another season manager John Queen freshened up the United line-up with a starting place for Alex Grier and the return also of Dale Clark and Stephen MacDonald.

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It was a good start from the visitors and a good passing move involving Davie Dixon and Clark resulted in a effort from Dominic O’Halloran which the striker shot just wide.

It was evident early in the game that United were way ahead of their opponents in terms of ability.

But there was a shock in store after 10 minutes when East Kilbride opened the scoring in their first attack, a cross from wide on the left being headed home by Carson, much to the delight of the home support.

The early pattern of the match continued with United dominance and Macdonald should have done better with a turn and shot which flew wide when it looked easier to score.

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The same player then saw a header hit the upright and Ross Foley was also unlucky to see a curling shot miss the target.

But just when it looked like being one of those afternoons United levelled when the ball broke kindly to O’Halloran who made no mistake from 10 yards.

It was all United and a second arrived on the stroke of half-time when Macdonald was upended in the box and Dale Clark duly converted the spot kick.

Simon Eeles was introduced for the injured Foley and in the fifth minute of the second half put the game out of EK’s reach, collecting a pass from McGuigan and curling a shot high into the corner of the net.

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Although EK never gave up United were content to see the game out.

But they did add to their tally when, after an excellent run from Clark, his ball was turned into his own goal by Taylor thus ending the scoring.

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