Kello Rovers 1 Carnoustie Panmure 2
Leaving the torrential rain at home, Carnoustie head South West in the Second Round of The Scottish Junior Cup to take on Kello Rovers of the Ayrshire District League. That in itself is an anomaly as Kello are from the town of Kirkconnel in Dumfries and Galloway.
Panmure gave a barnstorming show in the second half to come back from being a goal down with ten men to triumph 2-1 and secure a place in the Third Round.
Manager Alan McSkimming made just one change to the side that beat reigning Super League Champions, Bonnyrigg Rose with Ryan Roche replacing the injured Danny Millar and Liam Gibb replaced Roddy Black on the bench.
The first half was pretty much toe to toe with neither side prepared to give the other an inch on a very heavy pitch and the homeside coping with the lack of Assistant Referees better. Carnoustie were dealt a blow on 31 minutes when Jamie Robbie was sent off for a foul on Liam Fleming outside the box. Alan Cormack came on for his first appearance of the season as Pat Smith was sacrificed. The home side took the ascendency and took a deserved lead right on half time when Declan Hill fired home from just inside the box.
The Second half was a much different story as Carnoustie rolled up their sleeves and battled with their hosts for their Scottish Junior Cup lives, at times it was far from pretty but it was wholesome entertainment for the surprisingly decent crowd. Carnoustie began to take control and got a deserved equaliser on 74 minutes when Steven Cook bundled the ball home. Five minutes later and Panmure where in front, Substitute Sam Simpson, who had replaced Robert Urquhart at the break, lost his marker and crossed for Gordon Macdonald to stab the ball home. The goal was greeted with delight by the travelling Panny Army and dismay by the crestfallen locals. Kello pressed looking for an equaliser but Carnoustie held firm to secure a place in the next round.
A stirring second half performance in a rumbustious proper cup tie.
