Selkirk 3

Edusport Academy 1

David Knox

At Yarrow Park

THE numbers don’t stack up at Selkirk just now but, more importantly, the performances do.

Yet again with only 12 fit players to choose from Ian Fergus somehow guided his team into the semi-final of the Lowland League Cup.

And, as they did in the previous round against Whitehill Welfare, the Selkirk players more than deserved to progress with an all-round spirited performance.

The manager was quick to praise his team at the final whistle. He said: “Edusport are a very good team and we contained them well.

“We knew we had to let them have the ball and play well on the counter attack, and that’s what we did.

“The boys were brilliant today in playing to the game plan, and they deserve a lot of credit.”

Edusport made much of the early exchanges with Steven Sacayara and David Sinclair spreading the ball about well from midfield.

But apart from a deflected Sacayara shot, which rolled a foot wide, and a header from Lewis Gamble, which was cleared by Ciaren Chalmers, Selkirk’s goal was never really threatened.

And the home team began to turn the tide as the half wore on with Sean McKirdy drilling a low shot a foot wide from 25 yards out, and Jordan Hopkinson testing keeper Lucas Terredas after cutting in well from the right flank.

Although Edusport continued to enjoy plenty possession after the interval it was Selkirk who were carving out the chances.

Only a goal-line block by Michael Hewitt prevented Phil Addison opening the scoring with a volley after turning brilliantly inside the area – and McKirdy fired the rebound inches over the bar.

The introduction of Ross King into midfield added even more pace to Selkirk’s attack, and the chances kept coming.

Daryl Healy broke away from his marker to test Terredas with a low curling effort.

And Addison was denied by a last-gasp tackle inside the area.

The opening goal arrived on 63 minutes as Addison’s low shot was saved by the feet of the Academy keeper and McKirdy raced in to fire the loose ball home.

Healy was unfortunate not to make it 2-0 as his volley from a Ryan Sclater cross skimmed the outside of the post.

But Jordan Hopkinson did add a second with quarter of an hour remaining as he converted a deep cross at the back post.

Edusport had already forced a good save from Gregor Amos with Gamble’s powerful low shot from outside the area.

And the visitors were rewarded with a goal in the 80th minute as Clement Jordane found enough space to fire a stunning low drive into the far corner of the net from 25 yards.

Edusport threw players forward in a bid to force extra time but it was Selkirk who were to find the net again.

Baxter sprinted through the channel on 88 minutes to cleverly clip a delicate ball beyond a covering defender and Terredas, and into the net.

Selkirk. G Amos, R Sclater, R Donaldson, A Fleming, D Healy, C Chalmers, J Hopkinson, P Addison, D Banjo (R King 53), D Baxter & S McKirdy.