No Christmas Thrills at New Victoria Park

Newtongrange Star and Cumbernauld United played out a goalless draw in their third round Scottish Cup tie in a match that was more like a pre season friendly than a rousing cup encounter. The game was played almost entirely in midfield with few chances created at either end and only provided any spectacle after the visitors introduced their substitutes in an attempt to break the deadlock. No doubt both sides will feel they should have won the match but, in the end a draw was a fair result. 

Cumbernauld United and Newtongrange Star finally got to meet at New Victoria Park today in the Third Round of the Scottish Junior Cup after weeks of postponements due to the freezing weather. The visitors are currently in the McBookie.com Central Super First Division and sit in mid table and have defeated Fife sides Tayport and Thornton Hibs in this season’s cup run. Star are tenth in the McBookie.com East Superleague and, after a first round bye, defeated East Craigie in Dundee in the second round of this year’s cup competition. The prize on offer to the winners was a fourth round tie away to Bonnyrigg Rose in January.

The teams kicked off in front of a small crowd, no doubt influenced by the proximity of Christmas but, on an unseasonably mild afternoon. Both sides were slow to get into their stride and there was nearly ten minutes played before there was any goalmouth action- the veteran striker Robbie Winters nearly getting on the end of a Team cross. The visitors then had a couple of corners which came to nothing before Winters headed a H Murphy cross narrowly wide with a quarter of an hour played.

With 26 minutes on the clock Star nearly took the lead. The ball was cut back and O’Hara struck a shot which was well saved by Buchanan, the ball broke to O’Brien who looked certain to open the scoring but, McGlaughin did brilliantly to turn his goal bound effort off the line. A minute later O’Hara tried a shot from range but it didn’t trouble Buchanan.

The game became bogged down in midfield with neither side dominating but just before the break Mitchell had to put in a great saving tackle to end a promising United attack. Right on half time Buchanan  was brought into action again as he made a fine stop from an O’Brien effort.


Half Time:  Newtongrange Star 0; Cumbernauld United 0

No changes at the break and the game continued in the same vein with few chances and little goalmouth action. Book keepers were called into action to save shots but neither effort was really threatening. With 62 minutes played Star had a half chance but S Scott completely missed his kick when in a promising position.

After 68 minutes, United withdrew McGlaughlin and Dickson and sent on Shiels and Batchelor. 

O’Brien then shot over for Star but chances were still few and far between although the same player got free in the box a minute later and looked to pass when he had a shooting chance.

The visitors were looking more lively after the introduction of the two subs and Winters made way for McBride as they made their final change and for the first time it looked like there might be a goal. 

With 15 minutes remaining, Shiels scuffed a shooting chance but United were the more enterprising side. 

After 79 minutes, Stevenson was just wide with a free kick as United came close to winning it. 

With five minutes remaining United produced one of the best moves of the game. Team made a surging run on the right before playing a one two with McCabe but, he somehow managed to shoot wide when he looked certain to score. 

With time running out the three United substitutes combined well to create an opening but the home defence stood firm.

This was a match that never caught alight and both sides will be pleased to get another chance to progress. United certainly looked the more dangerous after they introduced their substitutes and might well have won the tie near the end. Best for Star was O’Brien while S Murphy and the subs caught the eye for the visitors. 

The sides replay at Cumbernauld on 30th December and hopefully there will be goals!

Full Time: Newtongrange Star 0; Cumbernauld United 0

Teams

Newtongrange Star
Renton, K Scott, Swaney, Mitchell, Melvin, O'Hara, O’Brien, Bracks, Murray, Forster, Porteus and S Scott Subs Lally, Lowson, Osborne, McNaughton and Weston

Cumbernauld United 
Buchanan, Renton,Kennedy, Stevenson, P Murphy, H Murphy, McCabe, McLaughlin, Winters, Dixon and Team Subs Batchelor, McBride, Shiels and Wilson ( GK) 


Referee Iain Snedden Assistants Nelson Silva and Rhys 

Gordon Baird 

Neutral Reporter