Rabs lose out in penalty shoot-out

Rob Roy 1

Arthurlie 1

(3 -4) pens

Scottish Junior Cup

4th Round replay

Rob Roy made an agonising exit from this season’s Scottish Junior Cup by going out in a penalty shoot-out against their Super Premier League opponents.

Rabs were the fastest out of the traps and took a third minute lead when Steven Aitken crashed the ball against the Arthurlie cross bar with Kevin Watt following up to head the ball into the net.

The Kirky side suffered an injury blow in the 12th minute when Ally Martin was assisted off with a serious rib injury in a challenge from Lie defender Green.

The visitors came back strongly with McGregor firing across the Rabs goalmouth before the ball was scrambled clear for a corner kick.

Arthurlie drew level in the 24th minute when Rabs keeper Murdoch could only push a long range Blakey shot against the base of the post and it fell to Smith who squeezed the ball home from a few yards out.

The better of the chances fell to Arthurlie with McGregor sending his effort wide of the post before Smith when through on goal could only shoot past Murdoch’s upright. Rabs however weathered the storm and were happy to go in at the interval all square.

First chance of the second half fell to Aitken, but the Rabs striker sent his drive wide.

It was Athurlie who looked the more dangerous and in control of the match, creating attacking moves, but their finishing let them down.

Smith wasted two glorious chances, firing past the post when in a good goal-scoring position. Then he sent a shot across the goalmouth before McArdle drove his effort wide from close range.

In the final twenty minutes, on a strength sapping, sodden Guy’s Meadow, Rabs superior fitness was beginning to tell and they hauled themselves back into contention taking a stranglehold on the game.

McMenamin tried a long range volley which failed to trouble White.

Then, in the 76th minute, White somehow managed to palm a Watt shot from his goal-line. A minute later Barr should have given Rabs the lead when in front of goal he sent a header into the arms of White.

With 10 minutes remaining Rabs were denied the winner when the assistant flagged for offside after substitute Collins hit the ball into net following a Watt cross, a decision which angered the Rabs following.

In the 87th minute Rob Roy were reduced to ten men when Collins, making his debut, was sent off for kicking out at Green on the touchline.

Neither side could make a breakthrough in the final minutes, taking the tie into a penalty decider.

Skipper Carter, Watt and Hunter scored from the spot for Rabs with McMenamin and Upton’s efforts saved by White.

Arthurlie hit the bar with their first attempt but scored with the remaining four to advance into the fifth round of the national trophy.

Rob Roy: Murdoch, Finnigan, McKenzie, Carter, Barr, Hunter, Davison (Collins 65), Upton, Aitken, Watt, Martin (McMenamin 12). Subs not used;- Jarvis, Brown, Brogans.