Tollcross must enter Wolves’ lair

The visitors looked an assured side throughout, backed by a lively travelling support and will perhaps feel disappointed not to have secured their passage into the fourth round at the first attempt.

The opening half was played at a frantic pace, with Wolves carrying the greatest threat in front of goal. However, the deadlock wasn’t broken until ten minutes before the interval when the side from Ayrshire finally edged ahead. Francis Kilpatrick’s shot was well blocked by John Nisbet in the Tollcross goal, but the visiting player was quickest to react to the rebound and followed up to knock the ball into the back of the net.

With both sides stepping up a gear in the second half, it was Tollcross who managed to salvage an equaliser courtesy of striker Jason Wood. Space opened up down the left and Wood had all the time to compose himself before finishing well into the far corner.

Tollcross coach Alan McKay said: “We were not at the races for most of the game. We did create four good chances but our passing wasn’t slick, our pressing of the ball was poor and we seemed to go long too often. Wolves worked hard and created chances themselves, but we’re disappointed we drew the game and now have to make the trip to Ayrshire next week.”

Paton in the right place

Volunteer United eventually saw off the threat of Redpath Albion to book their place in the second round of the Anderson Cup after a 3-0 victory at Bathgate Sports Centre.

The home side had to be patient however, failing to find the breakthrough until the second half after a stuffy opening 45 minutes from the visitors.

Andrew Paton got things rolling after 55 minutes when he rifled a low-driven shot into the bottom corner from just inside the area.

Paton then showed great accuracy once again to score his second 15 minutes later, another fine strike which was aided by a slight deflection off a defender to put his side two up.

Paton also had a say in Volunteer’s third goal, showing great awareness to pick out the run of Paul McIntosh who finished with ease from close range.

Player/coach McIntosh felt his side’s second-half performance proved the key factor in the outcome of the match. “It was a fairly even balanced game in the first half but we stepped it up in the second. Our defence was immense with Paul Ingils getting our man-of-the-match award. We’ve been pretty good in the league so far this season but this was the first cup match we’ve managed to win.”

The merry Widows

Scottish Widows edged out LEAFA rivals Seaforth Highlanders with a 2-1 victory in their East of Scotland Cup first-round tie at Kirkbrae.

The home outfit were 2-0 up at the break thanks to goals from Paul Harcus and Euan Auld, but were made to sweat in the last 15 minutes after the visitors had clawed one back through Richard Petrie. Harcus collected a loose ball after 20 minutes and finished with ease from only a couple of yards out.

But there was something special about Widows’ second effort. Central defender Auld made the decision to drive forward himself from deep inside his own territory, before playing a neat one-two and lashing a volley into the net from the edge of the penalty area.

Widows continued to have the upper hand on proceedings until the latter stages when Petrie netted for the visitors, forcing the inevitable assault on the hosts’ goal, but it wasn’t to be.

Widows’ secretary Jim McNulty said: “We probably should have won by more. Their goalkeeper kept them in it with four great saves in the opening 15 minutes. We are delighted to get through.”