Scottish Junior Cup Round Five
By Stefan Coutts
Yoker Athletic…1 v Wishaw…3
Wishaw became history boys by making the Junior Scottish Cup quarter finals for the first time since before man set foot on the Moon but gaffer Derek Holmes remained grounded.
The win means Wishaw face a money-spinning tie against Stewart Maxwell’s high flying Kirky Rob Roy in next week’s continuation of the Cup adventure.
Wishy keeper Sandy Thomson converted from the spot before the break to open with James Coffey and Ryan Smillie adding in the second half, then Yoker salvaging some pride late on with a Greg Maitland freekick.
He told GMS: “We made a wee bit of history but all credit to the lads today as the preparation wasn’t the greatest but we came here and it was a tough game.
“The boys stuck to their game plan and we came here and we got the goals and we’re happy to get through to the next round.
“Rob Roy will be a tough game but we’re at home and full of confidence but we’ll work hard and see what next week brings us.”
The opening exchanges were like a well played chess match as both sides probed for an opening without much give, as Yoker believed they had taken opened the scoring on 22 minutes.
Maitland floated a corner in from the left and Kerr Allan nodded back for Gary Bissland to volley home – but whistler William Wilson blew insisting Allan had fouled his marker in the build up.
Right on half-time Dan Kindlan tumbled in the box under Stephen Howie with the ref pointing to the spot and Thomson sent Liam Campbell the wrong way to net.
After the break Wishy were two to the good as Kindlan sent in a corner that the unmarked Coffey rose to nod home and give the visitors a bit of breathing space.
Yoker should have been back in it when Craig Crawford floored Rory McKinnon for a penalty but goal hero Thomson saved the spot kick from Ryan Hynes.
The match was all but over on 68 minutes as Smillie touched past Campbell to guarantee at least one leg in the quarter finals.
But on 87 minutes Yoker produced a late rally with Maitland scoring an unstoppable freekick to save face and throw themselves a lifeline but it was too little too late.
Yoker: Campbell, Bailey (Young 72), Sharkey (McKinnon 55), Howie, Allan (B14), Smith (B71), Rankin, Bissland, Cree, Maxwell (Hynes 55), Maitland
Subs not used: Cole, Gallagher
Wishaw: Thomson, Duffy, O’Kane, Crawford, Schoneville, McGeough, Dan Kindlan (Grant 78), Dean Kindlan (B32), Smillie (McGuire 72), McCafferty, Coffey (Collinder 72)
Subs not used: Burns, McIntrye
Referee: William Wilson
GMS MoTM: Dan Kindlan (Wishaw FC)
GoalmouthScramble 