United through to West semis

Cumbernauld United are in the semi-finals of the West of Scotland Cup.
CONGRATULATIONS: Joe McCafferty is congratulated by his team-mates after opening the scoring for Cumbernauld United against Hurlford.CONGRATULATIONS: Joe McCafferty is congratulated by his team-mates after opening the scoring for Cumbernauld United against Hurlford.
CONGRATULATIONS: Joe McCafferty is congratulated by his team-mates after opening the scoring for Cumbernauld United against Hurlford.

Headed goals from Joe McCafferty and Dom O’Halloran gave United a brilliant 2-1 victory over Scottish Junior Cup finalists Hurlford on Monday night.

The Cumbernauld boys will play Troon for a place in the final for which a date has still to be arranged.

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In front of a good crowd Hurlford as expected made a strong start to this quarter-final. The United defence, however, were equal to the task and kept the powerful Ayrshire forwards at bay.

Cumbernauld settled to play ther usual high standard brand of football and took the lead in the 20th minute with a terrific goal. James Brown accepted a pass from Scott Upton and put over a perfect cross which Joe McCafferty met with a great header to beat Alistair Brown in the visiting goal.

Hurlford did have the ball in the net before the break but the goal was disallowed.

As expected the visitors came out strongly in the second period and for a spell put the home defence under pressure. The equaliser came in the 50th minute from visiting danger man and top scorer Kean and it was game on.

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The match raced on until the 85th minute when to the absolute delight of the United supporters Dom O’Halloran headed home from close in to record a sensational victory over one of the top junior teams of the season.

Every United player was a hero, their fitness attributed to coaches John Campbell and Junior Gibson, and physio Jim Cooper.

United: Quinn, Steele, Brown, Haxton, Boyle, Fraser, McCafferty, Upton, Zok, Scott, O’Halloran. Subs:
Foley, Thomson, Stewart, Gibson, Buchanan.