Published: Wednesday, 19th March, 2008 11:00
Late strike takes Selkirk into cup final
By Ally McGilvray
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Selkirk goalkeeper John Dodds gets ready to deny Easthouse's Kenneth McMillan from point-blank range.
Pic by: Alwyn Johnston
Selkirk, 2; Easthouses Lil, 1
PROUD Selkirk boss Fraser Lothian praised his players for scoring their place in the club’s first final in 30 years – and then revealed he believes they can go on and win it.
The Souters edged out East of Scotland League Premier Division rivals Easthouses Lily at Yarrow Park on Saturday to win a place in the Image Printers Cup final, where they will line up against Lothian Thistle.
Craig Lothian and Alan Jackson grabbed the goals for the home side but Ross Cameron’s leveller for the visitors midway through the second half threatened to send the game into extra time.
The result means the Borders club, who are battling to avoid relegation in the league, also qualify for a place in the City Cup and have a real chance to win silverware this season.
Asked how he felt about leading the club to their first cup final since 1978, when they beat Whitehill Welfare to lift the South Qualifying Cup, Fraser Lothian told the Border Telegraph: “It’s just a good feeling.
“The league is still our priority but it’s great for the boys to get to a final. They were really up for the game and I thought they deserved it.
“It was a wee bit edgy at the end but nobody cares about that now we’re there.
“No team ever hammers the opposition in a semi-final so it was always going to be close.
“Getting to the final is what it’s all about. It gives us something to look forward to for the rest of the season.
“The last couple of weeks have been hellish in the dressing room because everybody’s been down but this result will hopefully lift the whole club.”
He added: “I think the final will be a difficult game because we’ve not played Lothian Thistle this year so we don’t know much about them but I believe these players can go on to win it.”
Selkirk took the lead four minutes after the restart when comeback king Keith Darling setup Craig Lothian and the youngster looked up before sending a neat right foot shot 25-yards into the top right hand corner of the net, beyond the reach of the Easthouses goal-keeper.
The visitors bounced back with a goal to equalise the scores in the 67th minute.
Stuart Love swung in a corner and the ball eventually fell to Cameron who hammered it into the roof of the net.
But, with only ten minutes of the tie remaining, Selkirk regained their lead by scoring what proved to be the decisive goal.
Substitute Mike Rammanis created some space on the edge of the opposition’s penalty area with some running along the edge of the box and he squared the ball to Alan Jackson who netted at the back post.
Selkirk: Dodds, Anderson, Millvean, G Lothian, Walldie, C Lothian, Livingstone, Darling, Jackson, Tyson, Brown. Subs: Rommanis, Pritchard, Stephens, Evenden, Biggs.
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