Brora Rangers 2v1 Newton Stewart AET (1v1 FT)
Forres Mechanics 2v0 Wigtown & Bladnoch

I hear Newton got 10 yellow cards plus a sending off today, that'll cost them big time.

typical of saints gloating at someone else expence at least they got a replay

That makes it an even more heroic performance from Newton. Gutted for Tucker they deserve huge credit.

SOUTH CLUBS GO DOWN FIGHTING

FORRES MECHANICS 2 WIGTOWN 0

(HT 1-0)

FORRES manager Gordon Winton was full of praise for his side after they booked a home tie place in the 2nd round.

They now face Keith after knocking out a gallant South of Scotland side that fought to the end.

Winton said: "All credit to Wigtown for they were a difficult side to beat. They were stuffy side and I thought our first goal would have settled us but Wigtown fought hard.

"Once we got the second goal we knew we were through."

Winton hit out the booking of Fraser Bremner in the first half: "Fraser was pulled down in the first half and we all thought it was a blatant penalty. But to our amazement the ref ran down and booked him for diving. No way was it a dive, he was round the keeper."

Forres got the vital break in the 15th minute when Nathan Sharp headed home the opener from a corner.

In the second half Wigtown piled on the pressure in the opening 15 minutes and Alan Johnstone struck the post and Ross McCrindle had a header cleared off the line.

But sub Kenneth Hendry struck the killer blow in the 78th minute when he headed strongly into the net to clinch the victory.

Wigtown secretary Jim McColm said: "Obviously we're disappointed but the lads put up a tremendous display and we're really proud of them. Manager Micky Sutherland had to play because we were short today."



BRORA 2 NEWTON STEWART 1

(HT 1-0)

BRORA got through in extra time but the South League side turned in a tremendous performance.

The Highland side now face Forfar Athletic in the second round which manager Muir Morgan is relishing.

Morgan said: "This will be a great fame for us but Newton put up a great show and we must give them credit.

"I thought that the more the game went on the better our chances, especially when they were reduced to 10 men."

Neil Hyslop should have put the visitors in front in 10 minutes when he went one-on-one with the home keeper but the ball was cleared.

Newton were pressing and had chances in the 20th and 22nd minutes and then in 25 minutes Jake Inglis, the Brora midfielder was left clear and he fired in a 25 yarder that gave keeper Harry Fiddler had no chance with.

In the second half Newton came on strong and Jamie McColm sent over a free kick on the left after 53 minutes and young Johnny Fisher headed powerfully into the net to level the scores.

Then a minute later Davie Hyslop gave away penalty Newton keeper Harry Fiddler made the save of the game when he made a great diving save from Simon Mackay.

This was Fiddler's seventh penalty save of the season but it wasn't enough.

Newton were reduced to 10 men in the 75th minute when Hyslop was sent off for a second yellow in a tough match that saw Newton get 10 yellow cards in addition to the sending off.

The extra time was just too much for the visitors and Simon Mackay made amends from his penalty miss to hit home the winner

???????????

Hardly gloating cleverboy just stating the obvious that bookings cost money.

If you look back i wished all South teams the best of luck and its a pity Newton and Wigtown didnt get to the next round.

You are right saintslad it could wipe out any monies made from being in the cup. What is it £100 a booking and £300 a sending off? Is it true they got no one booked?, If so it seems very strange that one team could pick up so many cards and the other be so squeeky clean.

Yes it is £100 for a booking and £300 a sending off.

With that fine on top of the travelling up there they will have spent more money than they will have gained i would have thought.

nice of you to be so concerned about it

does the Wigtown secy not know his team manager is Mickey Dougan

just for the records Newton had six yellows and one red on Saturday and Brora had none....... in the first match Brora had four yellows and Newton had only two.....should the same Referee not have covered both games? Just to add that there are still some Souvenir Progs left from first match and if required contact the Secretary.

An absolute disgraceful performance from the ref. All started off at 2 o'clock when we couldnt find the ref to hand in the team lines. Later found him in with the Brora Committee having a cosy little chat and a cup of tea. After the game one member of their committe (think it was their chairman) even admitted that they had been at him before the game making comments like the ref was terrible last week, we never got anything, the ref was from down that way in an obvious attempt to influence him.

Into the game and for the 1st ten Brora started the better side although we had probably the best chance to go one up. They then scored a screamer from their best player Inglis who was impressive in both matches. From this point we then kicked into life and were putting Brora under all sorts of pressure right up until half time and were really unlucky to still be a goal down. Down the left hand side we were destroying their full back and at the break we were very confident the chance was still their fr the victory. So far the ref had favoured them with decisions but nothing overly controversial. We got the deserved equaliser after the break from a Jonny Fisher header and at this point we must have been looking favourites. However credit to Brora they then started to play again, firstly gaining a penalty (which admittedly was a penalty- unlike what Brora couldnt admit last week) Fidler then pulled off an excellent save from the spot and then 5 minutes later one of the best reaction saves I have seen to keep the score at 1 all. With the wind getting up blowing towards the newton goal we were struggling to gain possession in their half and they had a good 10 minute spell. Even still though they were creating very little and we still looked the more dangerous side breaking forward. As we were coming back into the game the game was to take a totally different direction when after a 50/50 the ref sent David Hyslop (lovely guy ) off for a tackle that wasnt even a foul. Everybody around was shocked and the linesman who was standing right next to it even said it was nothing more than two players coming together. We were then left with a different game as the boys showed an excellent attitude to dig in and get the game to extra time. Sadly the ref just got worse and worse and flashed his yellow card at anything in black and white. Even though I admit that due to the frustration, on the side of the pitch we started to shout for every decision but we werent even getting a single one our way. As if it wasnt enough their goal appeared to strike their player's hand before he ran onto it and put it past our keeper. Even though we had the 10 men it was our team that pushed on and had a couple of good chances to equalise.

No complaints to the Brora players, most were decent enough and if it was the other way round we would have more than happily accepted such a biased (allegedly) performance but in all honesty its hard to take when a ref can decide the outcome of the game so blatently. It really was a had to be seen to believe it performance. Well done to the South sides though as on what I have seen the gap in leagues obviously isnt as much as made out and by all accounts Wigtown turned in a good performance as well.

I watched the second half of the first game and it seemed to be a quiet game with the ref having very little to do I thought it was the case in the Scottish Cup that the same ref did any replay but they maybe changed it due to the distance for the ref to travel it would've cost too much in expenses but maybe we should be thankfullwe have our local refs some might not be the best but I'm sure they are honest

Just read your report on the game again and you mentioned the penalty you got last week did you not think is was a penalty if not then you got the rub of the green last week

Hard Luck Davie. Kept yer Dad informed of the h/t score while at New Bayview. Laurence Nelson had the link through West Sound.

Seems like Newton got decisions like Stranraer FC have been getting most of the season so far in the Second Division. Some of our red card's have been harsh to say the least.

On Saturday it was the first time a red card didn't cost us the game. Although it might cost us on another front.

It would be easy enough to view the above post as merely being sour grapes by a player sent off but you really had to be at this game to fully understand what went on. You could have had 1000 neutral refs at this game and I doubt any would have given a red card. The decision amazed everyone apart from their player who rolled about on the ground after putting in if anything the worse of the two challenges.

In addition to what is already mentioned the player accused of diving last week on their website (wrongly IMO) was blatantly chopped down inside the box and no action taken. A penalty at that stage would have been significant and a red card wouldn't have been so ridiculous in that instance either. To issue 7 cards to 1 side and none to the other in what was no more than a competitive game was simply mad. In addition to the effect this had on the result it will also have a major impact financially on a small club who had already spent big by their standards just to play the match. Referees really need to look at the bigger picture when they make such petty and some would say biased decisions.

After the match somebody said to me in the social club that nobody will ever convince me that the referee handled that match honestly. Obviously I can't say that but anyone who viewed the game (regardless of their loyalties) would have a great deal of difficulty disagreeing with that statement. Surely a ref shouldn't be handling such games that referees in that league every week and is clearly in very friendly terms with the home team. These games mean so much to everyone!

Sorry think you missed the point. My point was that last week it WAS a penalty. The player brought down couldnt believe the fuss Brora made over what was a penalty. And this week it also WAS a penalty for Brora. The ref had a terrible game but he got the penalty award right and Brora deserved their penalty.

Not having a go tucker bet the ref in the first game was from the same league you play in and you had no complaints so surely its the same for both

Don't think Martin Sproule refs regularily in the South anymore does he? I guess thats maybe being a bit economical with the truth mind since he hails from the area. The crucial difference though is that Sproule maybe gave us a few decisions (I thought it was a pen but appreciate the fact that some refs might have waved play on at that stage - it wasn't a total stonewaller IMO) but this guy gave them absolutely everything and was booking and sending our players off for next to nothing. There was at least 4 major and controversial decisions which had a big impact on the game at very crucial times. Whereas the previous week there was only 1 big decision and it certainly wasn't a ridiculous one. Nevertheless I think you make a reasonable and constructive point - but if you had seen the second game you would know exactly what I mean pal.