Selkirk 2

Whitehill Welfare 0

David Knox

at Yarrow Park

SELKIRK soared into the second round of the Lowland League Cup after returning to the type of form that made them early season title contenders.

During a dominant display Ian Fergus’s team not only scored twice but they hit the woodwork three times and also had a goal disallowed.

The returning manager, who only took over the reins again at the start of the month, said: “That was how Selkirk should play football – great movement and plenty of linking up.

“On another day we could have had five or six but I’m not complaining.

“We were down to the bare bones because of injuries but the 12 boys I did have today all played exceptionally well.”

Having beaten Whitehill in the league just three days earlier at Ferguson Park, the Yarrow Park club went into the tie as hot favourites.

But they almost fell behind in the third minute as Stephane Murray’s angled freekick evaded everyone and clipped the far post.

If anything the scare acted as a wake-up call as Selkirk went on to dominate the opening half.

For spells the crowd in front of the Bobby Johnstone Pavilion savoured Selkirk’s own Famous Five turning on the style.

Sean McKirdy, Dale Baxter, Jordan Hopkinson, Phil Addison and Daryl Healy tormented the visiting defence with swift interplay and imagination.

And the chances quickly stacked up.

A Hopkinson blast was blocked in front of goal by Mark Kerr just moments before Welfare keeper Ross Jardine bravely smothered at the feet of Baxter.

Andrew Fleming smashed the ball a foot over as the pressure continued.

And Baxter’s tremendous 25-yard shot rattled the crossbar with Jardine beaten.

Healy thought he’d broken the deadlock on 19 minutes as his header flew past the keeper but Cameron Watson had backtracked to clear off the line.

The goal arrived on 36 minutes as Addison raced onto a through-ball to sidestep beyond Jardine and smash a shot into the empty net.

Whitehill did briefly respond with Craig Beattie heading just over from a deep angled freekick.

But Selkirk were quickly back on the front foot again and McKirdy thought he’d added a second on 43 minutes only to be flagged for offside.

Addison almost scored his second two minutes later as his powerful, swerving shot smacked the bar-post junction.

While the attacking front five had been impressive the covering and sweeping from the likes of David Banjo, Ross King and Ciaren Chalmers prevented the visitors from creating much on the break.

It had been an impressive, high-tempo 45 minutes of football and, naturally, the game slowed in pace following the interval.

Jack Wright went within a foot or two of levelling for the visitors with a 52nd minute freekick.

But at the other end Baxter went just as close with an angled shot.

It was a touch of class from Baxter that led to Selkirk’s second on 68 minutes.

The former Hearts winger cut in from the flank to beat two defenders and square to the unmarked McKirdy to blast the ball ferociously beyond Jardine from 15 yards out.

Gregor Amos did well to palm away Wright’s freekick five minutes later as Welfare searched for a way back into the tie, and Josh Morris was unfortunate to steer the rebound against the outside of the post.

But Selkirk could have made sure of their passage to the second round on 80 minutes as Addison produced an unbelievable shimmy, flick and turn to wrong-foot the entire defence before smashing a volley against the bar.

Healy fired inches over as well as the home team continued to push forward.

There was a late scare deep in injury time for the hosts as Beattie hit the post but Selkirk weren’t to be pulled back.

Fergus added: “We have a home draw next week to reach the semi-finals and if we play like we did today we’ll be hard to stop.

“The league was the priority this season but a run in the cup wouldn’t do us any harm.”

Selkirk: G Amos, A Fleming, R Sclater, C Chalmers, D Banjo (J Davidson 77), R King, S McKirdy, J Hopkinson, D Baxter, D Healy & P Addison.