THX Energy Scottish Junior Cup Quarter-Final

KILWINNING RANGERS 3

CAMELON 3

By Stewart McConnell

NEVER-say-die Buffs came back from behind three times in a pulsating tie at Abbey Park to force a replay with the East Super League big guns.

There were shades of 1999 – when the Abbey Park side last won this famous old trophy – with a bumper crowd of around 1000 packing into the ground – and generating a truly electric atmosphere.

This was a white knuckle ride of a match- with goals galore and flowing attacking end-to-end football.

Indeed Buffs boss Chris Strain admitted he was a nervous wreck just watching the action and said afterwards: “Play was swinging from end to end and at some points my stomach was in knots. Camelon scored at times when we were on top but they were really good goals from their point of view, Our last goal was top quality from Dino (Dean Agnew). He got the ball on the halfway line, put it over the boy’s head and took on three players and laid it on a plate for us. The guys showed guts and character to keep us in the cup. but I think we can play better. Over the piece a draw was a fair result.”

Buffs began well and in four minutes a Barry Fleeting shot from 10 yards was deflected wide by that visiting defence. From the resultant corner kick the ball broke back to Dean Agnew who shot just over the bar from 20 yards. Agnew then shot Just high and wide from a similar distance a minute later.

Tommy Maitland sent forward a cross in 11 minutes but could find no takers. Joe Coleman made a darting run in 14 minutes and swung in a cross which was deflected wide by a visiting defender.

Liam McGuinness made a great run and set up Dean Agnew whose effort from eight yards was headed over the bar by Alan Benton three minutes later.

Dean Agnew made a surging run and his shot from 10 yards was fumbled and turned round the post by David Kane in 20 minutes. David Grant had a chance for Camelon two minute later but had his 25-yard shot deflected wide by the home defence.

However the deadlock was broken in 24 minutes when Grant dodged two challenges before rolling the ball under Adam Strain from 12 yards.

Ian Ure sent a 25-yard free-kick straight to home goalie Adam Strain on the half hour. Agnew raced into the box and saw his eight-yard shot well saved by David Kane a minute later.

Camelon almost doubled their lead in 38 minutes when Francis Kelly teed up Calum Scott, whose fierce effort from eight yards crashed off the post.

Buffs levelled against the run of play in 41 minutes when a Lewis corner kick came off Boylan and broke to Isaac Kerr who hooked the ball into the roof of the net from six yards.

In 50 minutes Camelon blasted back into the lead as Franny Kelly sent a 30-yard drive in off the crossbar. Buffs came close a minute later when a 25-yard effort from Lewis was well saved by Kane.

The hosts equalised again two minutes later when a Liam McGuinness free-kick was headed on by Kerr to Joe Coleman who nudged the ball home from four yards.

Camelon were denied a penalty claim when Grant went down inside the box under pressure from Kerr in 69 minutes although it looked like the home player had gone for the ball.

Then in 76 minutes Camelon regained the lead when Kelly unleashed a shot from 30 yards into the top corner of the net.

More drama followed three minutes later when Agnew won the ball in the centre-circle and staved off three challenges raced into the box and set up super sub Ian Cashmore who hammered the ball home from eight yards to square the game and send the home fans into raptures.

A Ricky Hanvey shot from 22 yards was well saved by David Kane a minute later/

Grant sent a 12-yard shot fizzing across the face of goal in 87 minutes and a McGuinness free-kick from 25 yards was well saved in 88 minutes as the match ended deadlocked.

KILWINNING RANGERS: Strain; Coleman, Boyd, Kerr, Campbell, Maitland, Agnew, McGuinness, Agnew, Boylan, Lewis, Fleeting. Subs: Lewis, Subs: Burns, Cumming, Cashmore, Stewart, Hanvey.