Manager blasts ‘inept’ show after challenge cup victory!

Aug 7 2008 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

LANARK United retained the Clydesdale Challenge Cup in a penalty shoot-out – before manager Tony McInally blasted their “inept” performance.

The new Super League side drew 0-0 with Second Division Forth Wanderers in Monday’s uninspiring final, which produced few goalmouth incidents, but then won 5-4 on penalties.

And McInally hit out: “It was a hollow victory.

“ I think only four players in my team got pass-marks for their play.

“I wasn’t at all pleased with the way my team played, but all credit must go to Forth.

“They kept their shape, their discipline, and their players approached the game in the right manner.

“As for my own team, I didn’t think we were good enough and I was really disappointed in the way we played.”

United were missing Paul Burns, Craig Stark, Grant Cuthill, Willie McGuire, Kieron Downs, Mark Keegans and Tommy Franch.

In contrast, Forth boss Paul Anderson beamed: “I’m proud of my guys; their work-rate and attitude was excellent and I thought we might just have nicked it at the end.

“I have seven players to come back who are just as good as the guys who played. We have a really strong squad, with loads of competition – so the guys in the team know they will have to do well to keep on playing.”

The score was on 3-3 after the regulation five spot-kicks, with Craig Miles, Davie Middleton and Tom Hanlon scoring for Lanark, while Gerry Fallon, Jim Halford and Alan Murphy were on target for Forth.

Davie Rodgers saved from Lanark’s Gareth Davies and Barry McLaughlan, and Stewart Thomson stopped efforts from Steve Ferguson and Gordon Murphy.

In sudden death Paul Airth and Darren Jaffrey netted for Lanark, Gary Johnston scored for Forth, but Marc Napier’s spot-kick was decisively saved by Thomson.