Larkhall Thistle dump Stoneyburn Athletic out of the Emirates Scottish Cup

Oct 13 2011 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

LARKHALL Thistle produced a five-star performance to thump Stoneyburn Athletic 5-2 in Saturday’s Emirates Scottish Cup first round replay, having drawn 1-1 away the previous week.

Graham Gracie drilled in an early opener as Thistle dominated, but after missing a few chances Stoneyburn equalised on 35 minutes, pushing the Jags onto the back-foot for the rest of the first half.

Stoneyburn pulled ahead in 49 minutes, but just a few minutes later midfielder Martin Canning headed two goals in quick succession to restore Thistle’s lead.

Boss Duncan Sinclair threw on Ross McLachlan and Scott McGeachie to freshen things up and those substitutions paid off as McLachlan scored in 78 and McGeachie in 87 minutes, taking the final tally to 5-2.

Sinclair said: “We played some really good football in what was a great Scottish Cup battle.

“It was very pleasing for me and my assistant Tom McLaughlin to see them play with a bit of style and score a few goals.

“All credit to the lads, they quickly came back into the game after going behind and claimed a lot of the ball.”

Larkhall now face Ayrshire District League side Muirkirk in the second round, which is to be played on Saturday, October 29.

The rest of the draw, as it affects county clubs, is: Bellshill Athletic v Thornton Hibs; Blantyre Victoria v Jeanfield Swifts; Cambuslang Rangers v Yoker Athletic; Carluke Rovers v Vale of Clyde; Dunipace v Royal Albert; Forth Wanderers v Camelon; Lanark United v Vale of Leven; Larkhall Thistle v Muirkirk; Lesmahagow v Whitehills; Lugar Boswell Thistle v Stonehouse Violet; Maud v Shotts Bon Accord; Newmains United v Glenafton Athletic; Thorniewood United v Newmachar.