A Son of the Rock

Scottish Cup, Round 2, Townhead Park, 21/10/22.

So to deepest, darkest (and wet) Ayrshire.

At least it was a win. Potential banana skin avoided.

But we made hard work of it.

We were on top for most of the first half with some neat approach play but only a Finlay Gray strike just off target to show for it before a leading arm challenge in the box resulted in a penalty. Carsy duly netted past the keeper. Not much else of note occurred before the break.

In the second half they came out more strongly (as was only to be expected) but we made the mistake of letting them back into it. From where I was up the other end – about three or four yards from their keeper at times – it looked to be a mistimed clearance gave them the ball and the equaliser was inevitable from then on.

I was now getting flashbacks to the play-off game at Ainslie Park last May. Not that Brett Long in our goal had too much to do, but still.

We started to press them in the latter stages, had several efforts just off target, but got a reward when Gregor Buchanan headed in after a corner was returned back across goal. He couldn’t really miss. I felt relief more than anything and reflected to myself that we stil hadn’t scored in open play since that one at Methil.

Then almost at the death we did, thanks to them giving the ball away to Finlay Gray. He rounded the keeper beautifully and slotted in.

In the hat for the next round.

Thankfully.