Star fail to do enough after penalty shock

NEWTONGRANGE were sent crashing out of the Junior Cup after a controversial penalty decision produced the only goal.

A disappointed Star manager Graeme Armstrong said: "Penalty apart we didn't do enough in the game to merit a win. Too many players didn't perform as well as they could have."

Newtongrange started strongly and only the thickness of the bar kept the ball out, Steven Thomson crashing a 35-yard free-kick off the underside with the keeper helpless. Then, with 25 minutes on the clock, they lost the services of striker Grant Meaney with a groin strain. Play flowed from end to end with no clear-cut chances for either side until the break.

The second half saw Tayport coming into the game more but Newtongrange, with Damien Gielty prominent, weathered the storm and pulled themselves back into contention. Luck deserted them, though, on the hour mark.

The ball was played into their penalty box by Roberto Morris. He chased it down the inside left channel. Scott McCulloch shepherded him out wide but Morris dived over his leg and went down in instalments. The referee, to everyone's amazement, blew not for simulation but a penalty.

Stefan Elvin stepped up after the understandable storm of protests had died down and dispatched the ball into the net.

Newtongrange had to respond. They forced the game to Tayport and only some desperate defending kept them out. Twice they had efforts cleared off the line but, as the final whistle approached, they knew they hadn't done enough to take the game to at least a replay next week.

Boss Armstrong added: "We're out of the cup with a whimper rather than a fight. The penalty decision was a shocker but we didn't have enough players up for the game."

Tayport: Fitzpatrick, Black, Wemyss, Hunter, Ferguson, Morris, McNaughton, Whatley, Manzie, Elvin, Bryce. Subs: Donachie, Paterson, Kenneth, O Doherty, Scott, Pepper, Stewart.

Newtongrange Star: Hill, R Fairbairn, Forbes, G McNicol, White, Gielty, Brown, Thomson, McCulloch, Meaney, Roseburgh. Subs: A Fairbairn, Gourlay, Umatang, Hutchison, Woodburn, McKenzie, Lunn.