Craigmark can spring Junior Cup shock

Nov 27 2009 by Mike WIlson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

DEREK Carruthers says home sweet home can pay off for Craigmark’s young guns and help them spring an Emirates Cup shock against last season’s beaten finalists.

Clydebank are hot favourites to roll over ‘Mark at Station Park on Saturday but president Carruthers reckons the Dalmellington youngsters are capable of an upset.

And he believes the local connection can pay off in their biggest game for years.

Carruthers says: “We’ve got posters out around the town and Scottish Coal approached us wanting to sponsor the tie.

“We’ve got good local lads like keeper Stevie Douglas who has played for Kello and Lugar but always finds his way back to Craigmark because he loves it so much.

“There’s Scott Dempster, whose dad George was a Craigmark stalwart for years and manager Lawrie Dinwoodie’s son Scott is a standout.

“It’s a young side and Steven Cargill, who joined from a local boys’ club, has been outstanding at the back.

“However, there is experience with the likes of Steph Holland who came back to us from the amateurs and has really helped.

“I think we’ve a great chance. We beat Harthill 3-1 in an earlier round and they had put out former winners Camelon.

“We’re looking for a big local support to get behind us and we know that Clydebank will bring good numbers with them.”

A blow is that key men Lloyd Murphy and Steven McKay are set out to miss out through injury.

Junior photographer and historian John Vass is producing a special match programme for the tie.

WHITLETTS warmed up for their home tie against Dalry by beating Ashfield 1-0 to go joint second top of the Super First Division, only one point leaders Glencairn.

But laid back bosses Jim Geddes and Jim Clarke are refusing to get carried away.

Geddes said: “Even if we finish bottom, the lads will have given it everything. It’s the same squad who won promotion last season but they deserve the chance to step up.

“After a slow start to the season, we have adapted well. We were fitter than Ashfield which is why we won.”

Ashfield had keeper Chris Prior sent off in 67 minutes for a foul on Elliot Duffy who then missed the resultant penalty.

James Davidson then fluffed a second spot-kick right on time before firing home the rebound.

CUMNOCK will look to march on at home to Dunipace who made heavy weather of beating Muirkirk 2-0 in a tie that was switched to Lugar.

Ayrshire League leaders KELLO hope to spring a surprise at home to BEITH who beat Kilbirnie 4-0 to go second in the Premier League.

But they will need to bounce back from only their second league defeat after losing 3-2 at Kilwinning.

David Frew gave Kello a fifth minute lead at Abbey Park only for Buffs to equalise with a comic cut goal. Tommy Sloan’s shot beat Cameron Menzies and hit the post but then bounced in off the unfortunate keeper.

Mark Ferris put Buffs in front early in the second-half, cashing in on a loose ball after Menzies made a great one handed save.

It was all square when Stevie Hyslop headed past former Ayr reserve keeper Fraser Stewart. But Buffs went back in front through a Scott Houston penalty after a foul by Hyslop.

Kello’s Mark McGinlay was shown a straight red with four minutes to go after a high challenge.

TROON slumped 4-1 at Irvine Vics but boss John Redmond insisted the Portland Parkers are still in the promotion frame.

Redmond, whose side entertain second top Winton on Saturday, quipped: “We always turn good after Christmas.”

Vics raced 2-0 up through Kris Gilhooley and Rod Lennox but then had Chris Affleck sent off. However, they still managed a third before the break when Gilhooley chipped keeper Darren Johnson from outside the box.

Keeper Rab McGoogan denied Troon with a string of top saves but it was Vics who scored again through Lee McCrae. Troon managed a late consolation from Stevie Abbot.