Early double enough to secure cup success

Two Ross Foley goals in the opening 25 minutes of the cup-tie at Westfield Park last Wednesday proved enough to give Cumbernauld a second successive victory in this competition.

United were well on top throughout the first half of the match, playing some excellent football, but conceded a bad goal on the interval to let the home team back into the contest. As a result the visitors had to withstand a bit of pressure in the second period from a gutsy home outfit.

It was end-to-end from the first whistle but United had the edge and took the lead in the eighth minute. Following some great play a Gary Carroll cross enabled Ross Foley to beat Dunipace goalkeeper Stephen Mathers to the ball and fire United ahead.

It was all United as the visitors looked to add to their initial score. Foley was having one of his best games for United – the young man involved in most attacks – and he scored United’s second goal in the 25th minute. In a United attack a Cumbernauld player was upended in the box, but the referee waved play on. The ball broke to Ross Foley who slammed it into the net with his right foot.

At this point United were rampant and Gary Carroll had the ball in the net but was ruled offside.

Just on the interval, however, Cumbernauld presented Dunipace with a lifeline when a short passback was pounced upon by a home forward who gave Gary Espener the chance to beat Barry Fraser in the away goal.

The second half of the match was a frantic affair. Dunipace, revitalised, threw everything at United and the game deteriorated into a succession of fouls and free-kicks.

Add to this some terrible refereeing decisions – not helped by the absence of official linesmen – and the Cumbernauld faithful were quite happy to hear the final whistle, with a good victory under their belts.