Kevin Rutkiewicz has revealed his East Kilbride players were well fired-up for their Scottish Cup thrashing of Caledonian Braves – after their visitors made the most of a recent last-gasp draw in the Lowland League earlier this month.
The Kilby gaffer admitted he felt “a bit of needle” around his squad before the second round clash at K-Park had kicked off, and hinted it related to the Braves’ last-minute celebrations when they earned a 2-2 draw at Alliance Park on October 1.
And it took Kilby less than two minutes to open the scoring through Neil McLaughlin in this clash, before a second-half goal blitz arrived.
A Scott Forrester own goal in 52 minutes was followed by strikes from Dylan McDonald, Ross Taylor and a second goal for McLaughlin, ensuring EK progressed to face Hamilton Accies in round three.
Rutkiewicz said: “I wasn’t aware of it at the time, but the boys felt there was a bit of needle going into this so they were right up for it, straight from the off.
“I don’t know if a couple of their [Braves’] players had maybe been at the wind-up, which I don’t mind to be honest, but I certainly didn’t need to motivate the boys on Saturday, they were bang at it. Beforehand, I’d got an earful of a couple of shouts from our players. ‘Show him’, and ‘show this one.’
“They did score a late goal – and a deserved late goal – to get a point against us down there in the league.
“Sometimes emotions at the end of a game do get the better of you but I’m not going to condone or condemn that.
“Sometimes you have to take it on the chin when someone celebrates a last minute goal in your face, but the boys were definitely up for it and it showed in the performance.”
Rutkiewicz admitted Kilby didn’t have it all their own way in the tie and were perhaps fortunate not to concede a penalty when Ross McNeil’s effort struck an EK hand in the box.
”I felt for the first half hour we were the better team, but Braves had hit the woodwork twice so they were certainly still a threat,” said the 42-year-old.
“They had a big penalty claim as well. I’ve not seen it back yet, but we might have got the rub of the green.
“It was a handball situation where they officials have said his hand was in a natural position, but, being honest, it was in the ‘seen them given’ category
”After that, at the start of the second half, we were as good as we have been this season. We pinned them back with good energy and intensity.”
EK are not in league action this weekend in the 19-team division, but will host Armadale in a friendly. Details are yet to be confirmed.
* Meanwhile, East Kilbride have made a double signing swoop this week with the captures of players from Lowland rivals. Wingrer Jamie Docherty has joined from Tranent and striker Reg McLaren from Cumbernauld Colts.
Rutkiewicz said: “Danny McManus has a significant hamstring injury that will keep him out until January and Cami Elliott is out at the moment as well, so we’ve got good players at a good time for us.”
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