Rutherglen Glencairn boss Willie Harvey says his gamble to field players who weren’t fully fit paid off after they edged out Gartcairn 2-1 to reach the quarter-finals of the Junior Cup.
Anthony Maguire, Dom Cunningham, Mick O’Byrne and Jack McIlveen all featured despite not being fully fit – and McIlveen hit what proved to be the winning goal from the penalty spot, after Harry Mitchell’s thumping strike had given them a third minute lead.
McIlveen’s spot-kick had Glens 2-0 up at half-time before Reegan Aitken pulled one back for Gartcairn in the second half.
Both sides ended the game with 10 men as Dean Kindlan saw red for Gartcairn 13 minutes and Sean McGuire got his marching order in the 82nd minute.
Glens held out to book a last eight tie with Larkhall Thistle in February and Harvey, whose side have reached the quarter-finals for the first time in nine years, said: “Now we are starting to get players back from injury, we are starting to look more like ourselves.
“We knew we were going to tire in the second half because the players we had back had only trained one night after being out for a couple of weeks.
“But because it was the Scottish Cup, it was worth the gamble to get them playing and in the first half we were outstanding.
“In fairness, we won the first half and Gartcairn won the second half.”That’s how close it was and it was a game that could have gone either way.”
Harvey also praised the finish from Mitchell, a 20-yard strike into the top corner that sent Glens on their way.
He added: “Harry has got in his locker. We’ve seen him do it time and time again.
“It’s one of those ones where as soon as he hits it, you know it is a goal. The keeper didn’t even move. Everybody was static and you just knew it was in. It’s a great finish.”
Glens were due to host Kilbrinie on league duty tonight but a floodlight issue at the Hamish B Allan Stadium has seen that match postponed,
They now face a West of Scotland League Cup trip to Renfrew on Saturday, kick-off 1.30pm.
• Glens are helping The Salvation Army’s work in the Royal Burgh this Christmas and are accepting donations of gifts before their match this week to help those less fortunate. They are looking for food for foodbanks, toiletries and toys.
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