Oakley run 'Burgh close

MUSSELBURGH won through to the final of the East of Scotland Cup but had to work hard to overcome a stuffy Oakley side, who had a few big scalps under their belts from previous rounds.

"That was a hard shift against Oakley, who have beaten the Scottish Cup winners, Linlithgow, and the Super League champions, Bo'ness, in cups this season," said Musselburgh boss David McGlynn.

"We knew it would be a difficult game but didn't realise just how tough it would be.

"They were always in with a shout until late on in the game."

Oakley started the game just as aggressively as their Super League counterparts and, for the opening half hour, looked as likely to open the scoring as Musselburgh.

But then they lost the services of full back Chris Hughes with a leg knock and it upset their rhythm for a while.

Musselburgh huffed and puffed without finding any real penetration and were almost caught out when Oakley looked to have scored through Gavin Gray but, to Musselburgh's relief, the referee adjudged him to have controlled the ball with his hand.

Just before half-time, Musselburgh took the lead with a simple goal. A corner from Calvin Shand saw Scott Gibson, completely unmarked, head the ball into the net.

Oakley responded with a great break from Kevin Masson. He ran at the home defence but his final effort was wide of the mark.

The second half saw Musselburgh force the play again to create plenty of chances but, unfortunately for the home side, they couldn't take them.

Oakley still felt they were in with a chance and were dangerous on the break, none more so than striker Masson. He ran on to a long ball played over the Musselburgh defence and first-timed a volley inches over to keep the home defence on their toes.

Meanwhile, Musselburgh's Paul Tansey was proving once again just how dangerous a player he is. In one ten-minute spell, he had five great efforts at goal without any reward.

Time was running out for Oakley as they pushed forward. However, they were caught out with 15 minutes to go.

Another Tansey effort came back off the post to Kris Renton, who blasted the ball home for Musselburgh's second. Oakley responded again and, after some disastrous defending in the home penalty box, sub David Hutton scored to give Oakley a lifeline.

It wasn't to be, though, as Musselburgh went back up the park and scored a third. Again, Tansey was at the heart of it. This time he scored with another raking shot into the corner of the net.

With full time approaching, Musselburgh still had time for one more, a Mattu King goal finishing off the scoring.

Musselburgh will now face Linlithgow Rose in the final after they overcame Hill of Beath on penalties last night.

Burgh boss McGlynn was happy to get a result, admitting: "We knew we were in for a tough game but it was really stuffy.

"Oakley never gave up and the longer the game went on they were still in with a shout.

"Thankfully, when we scored our second the game opened up for us. But then we gave away a stupid goal and let them in.

"Then to come back with another two goals just finished them. We now meet Linlithgow at a ground to be decided and we'll be ready for them."

Musselburgh: Kie Renton, Porteous, Gray, Fraser, Gibson, Nelson, King, Shand, Kr Renton, McCallum, Tansey. Subs: Graham, Doherty, Bain, Beveridge.

Oakley: Manderton, Hughes, K Connors, Lumsden, Sinclair, Forbes, Campbell, Gray, Masson, Ritchie, King. Subs: Hutton, M Connors, Murdoch, Brough, Carroll, Bannatyne.