Whitletts Vics insist their Emirate Cup hopes are still alive

Mar 5 2010 by Mike WIlson, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

CONFIDENT Whitletts Vics insist hard work can keep their Emirates Junior Cup hopes alive.

Ayr's only junior club are 11/2 rank outsiders to spring a major upset in Saturday's replay away to three times winners Linlithgow Rose.

But determined boss Jim Geddes, who felt his men deserved more than a 1-1 draw in the first game at Whitletts, pledges Vics will give it their all.

The former Ayr United defender revealed: "We’ll work harder than Linlithgow and any other team for that matter. We’ll see where that takes us.

“Linlithgow are on a different level than us and I’m told spent more than £20,000 on one player. But we deserved to beat them on Saturday.

"The guys were gutted in the dressing room afterwards. That shows how far we have come."

Rose, who were backed by a big travelling support, handed Vics a huge advantage after 31 minutes when John Adam was sent off for a wild two footed lunge on Steven Kerr.

Geddes said: “It was a bad tackle and he had to go but I would have preferred if it stayed at 11 v 11.

“Often it’s easier to play against 11 and it left us wondering what to do.”

Ten man Rose nudged ahead five minutes into the second-half when Mark Tyrell converted a dubious free-kick.

Vics pushed three men into attack and got their reward when David McGivern slotted home a 71st minute penalty.

But despite pushing strongly to the final whistle, Whitletts couldn't get the goal that would have caused a major shock.

Now Whitletts will look to repeat the form that dumped Forfar West End in the last round. After being held at home, they dumped the east league leaders on their own patch with a stunning 2-1 win.

Geddes says: “We’re massive outsiders and no one expects us to beat a club as big as Linlithgow.

“But these players go into every game expecting to win and they deserve everything.

“We’ve still 16 league games to play and are in four cups so it’s going to be a hectic end.”

LARGS came from behind to make the quarter-finals with a 3-1 win over Rob Roy who struck first through former Glenafton striker Craig Feroz.

Goals from Ryan Deas and Willie McClure put the Barrfields men ahead at the break. The win was sealed in the last minute when sub Andy Monaghan set up Deas for number three.

IRVINE MEADOW, who await the winners of the Glencairn v Cambuslang replay in the last 16, went seventh in the Premier Division with a 3-1 win over Vale of Clyde.

Goals from Stephen Swift, Zander Ryan and Brian McGinty did the damage before Scott Upton bagged a late consolation for the basement boys.

CUMNOCK twice threw away the lead in a 2-2 draw at home to Ashfield to stay second in the First Division.

Graeme Wilson ended a mazy run by shooting them ahead but a Darren O’Donnell header levelled at the break.

Gareth Campbell restored the lead with a great shot before Ashfield’s Sean Fraser walked for a second yellow.

With three minutes to go, Ashfield nicked a point when Tony Chalmers fired past Chris Fahey.

In the dying seconds, Ashfield went down to nine men when Jamie Reilly was dismissed.

GLENAFTON hit back for a 1-1 draw at home to MAYBOLE who led at the break through John McDonald’s first goal since signing from Troon.

Glens, who lost new Lugar signing Darren McMahon through injury early on, rescued a point with four minutes to go through Richard McKillen.

But Maybole could have nicked it late on when on-loan Partick Thistle youngster Scott Tully was foiled by a double save from Ally Semple.

‘Bole boss Peter Leonard said: “Considering we were without six players, a point at Glenafton is an excellent result.”

Leaving Glens for Lugar as part of the McMahon deal is Alan Middleton.

KILWINNING reclaimed top spot in the Ayrshire League with a 3-0 win over IRVINE VICS whose promotion hopes now look dead.

Lee Grant gave Billy Thomson’s men the lead before Vics had Rod Lennox sent off. Buffs cashed in with further goals from Grant and Michael Fulton.

New signing Michael Holden of Thomson’s former club Girvan came off the bench and looked the part.

HURLFORD stay in the hunt after 3-2 win over long time leaders KELLO whose spectacular collapse continued after their electric start to the season.

Kello were twice ahead but were still found wanting. A Martin Shaw header gave them the lead but Jamie Wilson equalised before the break despite claims the ball went out of play in the build-up.

Rovers regained the lead when Stevie Hislop picked up his own clearance and set up David Frew to score.

But goals from Wilson and Andy Thomson gave Hurlford the win.

Kello are boosted by the return of David Jardine for Saturday’s visit of TROON but Martin Bell is still suspended.