Late Bonnella Strike Sees Gowfers Through To Last 16

Thornton Hibs 0 Carnoustie Panmure 1

Carnoustie kicked off and tried a long ball forward, but with no-one following it up it bounced out of play up near the left-hand corner flag. From the throw Dursley sent Dickson away, but Malone got across to put in a good tackle and the ball spun out of play on the other side.

Shortly afterwards, in the Gowfers first real attack, MacLeod carried the ball forward before crossing to Cameron, who was just too high with his attempt at goal.

In three minutes, a ball forward by Ogilvie spun up and hit Bonnella on the arm to give Thornton a free kick just inside their own half. Francis took the kick and picked out Dickson, who headed well past.

Three minutes later, Carnoustie had a half chance when a MacLeod throw-in found Bonnella, who collected the ball, turned and shot, but 'keeper Houston in the home goal made the save look easy.

In eight minutes the Gowfers had a slight scare when Donaldson got in behind the visitors defence, but his cross was blocked behind for a corner and Harrow's flag kick was taken cleanly by Geddes.

As play surged back to the other end, Devine sent Malone away up the right. He took the ball almost to the by-line, but his cross into the Thornton goalmouth was too near Houston, who claimed it before Bonnella could get a touch.

In 17 minutes, Bailie was adjudged to have fouled Devine as they both went up for the ball. Malone took the kick and tried to find Cameron but Whyte rose well to head the ball clear.

Five minutes later, Carnoustie had another half chance when Devine linked well with Kopel, who then sent the ball over to MacLeod. He carried it up the left then crossed inside to Bonnella, but Houston did well to come off his line and take it before the Carnoustie man could get a touch.

Devine required treatment after a tackle by Harrow. Ogilvie took the free kick, but Whyte was on hand to head the ball away.

Two minutes later, Ogilvie went down after a foul by Donaldson, who was surprisingly allowed to run on. The Thornton man then got in behind Kopel and cut the ball back to Dursley, who skied his shot over the bar from six yards.

In the Gowfers next attack, MacLeod collected a pass from Kopel and sent the ball through to Bonnella, who won a corner off Whyte. MacLeod took the kick but Houston rose well to make the catch.

On the half-hour mark, Malone made a good run up the right touchline, then won a corner as Renwick got back to intercept his cross. Devine's kick was cleared away by Whyte, but only went as far as Ogilvie. However, he was unable to apply further pressure on the home goal before the ball was scrambled clear.

In 35 minutes, Thornton pushed forward with Francis sending a long pass through to Donaldson, but Morrison got his head to the ball and nodded it back to Geddes.

Back at the other end, a Cameron cross from a MacLeod throw was only partially cleared out and came to Morrison, who drilled in a fierce shot but was off target and the ball flashed past Houston's right-hand post.

In 38 minutes, Thornton were awarded a free kick when Dickson went down following a tackle from Ogilvie. Bailie squandered the opportunity by driving the kick straight at Geddes, who made light work of the save.

The first half drew to a close with Thornton again on the attack but Dickson's cross into the visitors goalmouth was collected by Geddes under pressure from Donaldson.

Half Time : Thornton Hibs 0 Carnoustie Panmure 0

Two minutes after the restart, the Carnoustie support had a scare when a short back pass by Devine found Malone under pressure and Dursley nipped in, but Galbraith made a great saving tackle and cleared the ball away.

Thornton continued to press and in 50 minutes a Harrow cross was blocked out for a corner by Malone. Geddes got up well to touch Bailie's cross behind for a second corner.

Again Bailie took the kick and this time the ball was partially cleared by the Carnoustie defence. Bailie was first to the loose ball and drilled it back in only to see Geddes tip the shot round the post for yet another flag kick. This time Bailie fired the ball low towards the near post where MacLeod was on hand to clear it away.

In 56 minutes, Carnoustie had another let off when a poor headed clearance by Malone dropped to Francis, but Galbraith made another great tackle to save the day.

A minute later, Carnoustie passed up an excellent opportunity to take the lead. Devine was sent clear by Morrison and carried the ball forward before sending over a great cross to MacLeod, who swung at the ball but failed to make a proper connection and it flew over the bar from about 10 yards.

Thornton responded by immediately going back on the attack and when the ball reached Bailie, he fired in a 25-yard shot but Geddes made a fine save, touching the ball round the post for a corner, which came to nothing.

After 67 minutes, the home side had a chance to go in front, with Reid putting a great ball over to Dursley, but he headed well wide.

As played ebbed and flowed, it was Carnoustie's turn to again come close in 71 minutes. Kopel fed the ball through to Bonnella, who beat his man neatly then pushed the ball through to Cameron. He fired in a shot from 10 yards, but Houston was able to knock the ball down and Reid got it away. The ball came out to Buick, who fired it back in, but it was just too high and the ball flashed over the top.

Thornton's first change saw Bailie being replaced by Gardiner. A minute later, Galbraith was a shade fortunate not to be cautioned when he pulled down Gardiner as the substitute tried to break clear.

The game restarted with a dropped ball and Dickson tried to send Reid away, but Ogilvie nipped in to head the ball clear. Bonnella then made his way forward, beating Harrow neatly, but allowed the ball to run too far in front of him and Reid got across to kick the ball out for a throw.

In 88 minutes, the Gowfers survived another scare when following a bad clearance by Kopel the ball spun up in the air. Ogilvie tried to clear it, but Sellars nipped in and fired it narrowly over the top.

Just seconds after this lucky escape, Carnoustie broke the deadlock. Kopel fed a good pass through to BONNELLA, who slipped it to Wilkie, continued his run, took the return pass and slotted the ball low into the left-hand corner of the net.

The loss of this goal stung Thornton into action and they pushed forward in search of an equaliser. Harrow was brought down by Ogilvie, but Reid fired the resultant free kick straight to Geddes.

Deep into stoppage time, Morrison was adjudged to have fouled Whyte 25 yards out. Francis took the kick and, with the ball apparently destined for the postage stamp corner of the goal, Geddes got up to make a magnificent save and tip the ball over the top. The corner, taken by Harrow, was cleared away by Galbraith and the referee then brought the game to a close.

Starting Line-Ups:

Thornton Hibs : Houston, Francis, Reid, Renwick, Whyte, Baille, Dickson, Francis, Harrow, Dursley, Donaldson.
Substitutes : Sharp, Gardiner, Hunter, Mill, Sellars

Carnoustie Panmure : Geddes, Malone, Kopel, Morrison, Galbraith, Ogilvie, Devine, McIlvenny, Cameron, Bonnella, MacLeod.
Substitutes : Knox, Wilkie, Buick, Clark, Fordyce

Attendance : Around 1,000