EMIRATES SCOTTISH JUNIOR CUP
Rd2 REPLAY
BEITH JUNIORS 5 DALKEITH THISTLE 1
BEITH: ROSS, McSHANE, BRITTAIN, McCULLOCH, SHERIDAN, SPENCE, KERR, McGARVEY, REID, McKEOWN, CRAIG. SUBS: MORT, STEWART, CAVANAGH, McLEAN, ARBUCKLE, CONVERY, O’NEILL (GK).
DALKEITH: HOGARTH, McINTOSH, WATERS, B RICHARDSON, McMANUS, WILSON, PUDELSKI, L RICHARDSON, McDONALD, KELLY, MAXWELL. SUBS: FINLAYSON, BOGIE, LIDDLE, URE, McLEAN (GK)
Beith took the field keen to atone for a poor performance the previous week at Dalkeith, which led to this Emirates Scottish Cup replay. John Spence returned from illness into midfield and John Craig pushed up into attack to partner Andy Reid, due to Kenny McLean not recovering from the back injury he received last week.
The home side were almost gifted an opener in the second minute when Dalkeith defender McIntosh deflected a John Spence free kick onto his own post before the keeper scrambled the ball clear.
Beith hemmed the visitors in with a succession of corners and Dalkeith’s resistance snapped when Derek McCulloch was unceremoniously barged off the ball, right in front of the ref, as he went for a header. John Craig despatched the penalty kick despite keeper Hogarth getting a hand to it.
The Edinburgh side tried to respond to the setback and Beith keeper Ross was forced to make a good save from a Pudelski shot. Martin McGarvey was dictating play in midfield as Beith continued to pressure the visitors. Corners came with regularity and Marc McShane headed wide from a good opportunity. Richardson was yellow carded for a dangerous tackle on Brian McKeown who managed to continue after treatment.
Beith’s pressure had to tell and they added a second on the half hour when Marc McShane found his range at another John Spence corner and headed home powerfully at the back post.
Dalkeith keeper Hogarth was injured making a good block on Martin McGarvey and he had to be replaced by sub goalie McLean. Beith continued to dominate proceedings and they put the game out of the visitors reach a few minutes before the interval when Martin McGarvey was brought down in the box by a two-footed lunge. John Craig again slotted the penalty kick.
The visitors showed some fight at the start of the second half and Keith Ross produced a fine save touching a shot over the bar. Hard working young centre McDonald also had a decent effort that went just wide of the target.
Both sides made personnel changes before Beith went four up in the 62nd minute from another corner kick. Derek McCulloch this time rose to nod home a perfect John Craig centre.
The game became slightly pedestrian with the result in no doubt and the visitors grabbed a consolation when substitute Ure shot home inside the box when a long ball caught the Beith defence in two minds.
The visitors could have pulled back another as time ran out but Keith Ross pulled off a magnificent save to deny McDonald. Beith had the last say however when sub Greg Cavanagh produced a piece of fine individual skill to jink along the bye line and slide the ball past the keeper from a very acute angle.
Beith will be happy to be in the hat for the next round after overcoming a decent side that proved to be more difficult opponents than some thought. Beith’s more senior players stepped up to the plate on the day and the Bellsdale side got the added bonus of another spot of match practice for sub Martin Stewart as he returns from a lengthy injury lay off.
