Selkirk 3

BSC Glasgow 0

IT’S nine years since Selkirk last lifted a trophy.

And on Sunday they will have a chance of making a little bit more history when they face Cumbernauld Colts in the final of the Lowland League Cup.

Ian Fergus’ injury-ravaged team were the semi-final underdogs on Saturday against a talented BSC Glasgow side who were beaten in last year’s final.

But, despite only having 12 fit players, it was the Yarrow Park team who commanded much of the match.

Manager Fergus, who came on a substitute in the closing minutes, told us: “We’ve only had 12 players for each of our three cup games yet we’ve stuck to a game plan and beaten teams convincingly.

“Every one of my players yet again was tremendous today.

“We hardly gave BSC a look at goal and we looked like we could score every time we went forward.

“When you think back to where we were last season – knocked out in the first round of this cup and finishing second bottom of the league – it shows how far we’ve come.”

Only a Ryan Marshall block in the second minute prevented Ciaren Chalmers prodding Selkirk in front after an impressive start.

The BSC keeper also saved well to keep out a Dale Baxter free kick just a couple of minutes later.

The visitors, who had scored 10 goals in the previous two rounds, did come close with a Jack Smith shot that whistled a foot wide.

And Gregor Amos had to be alert to gather a Martin Grehan shot after the ball broke kindly in the box for the former Partick Thistle striker.

But Selkirk were causing the visitors all sorts of bother with their passing and movement.

Phil Addison drilled a low shot inches wide after a mix up in the BSC defence, and only a miraculous reaction save from Marshall prevented Chalmers breaking the deadlock on the half hour from a corner.

The goal came on 33 minutes from another corner with Chalmers filly finding the net from close range.

Dale Baxter doubled the advantage just three minutes later after being tripped on the edge of the area.

The former Hearts winger picked himself up to fire a stunning free kick into the far corner of the net.

Sean McKirdy went within inches of making it three with a curling shot.

And Addison was also denied just before half time after Marshall managed to push away his swerving free kick.

Although BSC enjoyed a bit more of the ball after the interval it was the hosts who continued to look the more threatening.

Baxter weaved through two challenges to test the visiting keeper, and just a couple of minutes later he latched onto Ross King’s cross only for the shot to deflect agonisingly over.

BSC did enjoy a brief spell of pressure around the hour which saw Robbie McNab fire a foot over and Amos save well from Grehan shot, but Selkirk’s back four looked solid.

And the home team’s swift counter attacking continued to cause problems.

Baxter lobbed inches over the bar on 65 minutes before Addison had a shot blocked in front of goal.

The third came on 77 minutes with substitute Josh Davidson threading a tremendous pass through for Addison to smash the ball beyond Marshall.

The BSC keeper did produce another great save in the closing minutes to deny Healy, who had turned magnificently on the edge of the area.

But by the time 49-year-old Fergus had replaced Addison the place in the final was secured.

Selkirk: G Amos, R Sclater, R Donaldson, A Fleming, D Healy, C Chalmers, P Addison (I Fergus 89), D Banjo (J Davidson 74), D Baxter, S McKirdy & R King.