ETHX Energy Scottish Junior Cup Fifth Round

KILWINNING RANGERS 4

LINLITHGOW ROSE 1

by Stewart McConnell

BUOYANT Buffs sent junior heavyweights Rose crashing to the canvas, knocking out one of the trophy favourites with a clinical display.

Manager Chris Strain Jnr said before the game his main aim was to ensure Rose left Abbey Park knowing they had been in a game. He got his wish as the high-flying East Coast side, who reached the last 16 of the senior Scottish Cup, left Abbey Park battered and bruised after being run over by an unstoppable Buffs juggernaut.

The hosts totally overpowered a visiting team who simply didn't know what had hit them and they outgunned them in all departments

.Jubilant Strain said afterwards: "We played with two guys who have a real presence upfront and Linlithgow struggled to match our pace, power and desire. I am delighted from beginning to end that we dominated the match and we were worthy winners. Our striker Bryan Boylan was excellent and he really put Linlithgow to the sword, It was a complete team performance."

Dean Agnew made a run to the edge of the box was blocked by a defender in four minutes as Buffs laid down an early marker. However a minute later Buffs snatched the lead in sensational style when the ball broke to Boylan 16 yards out and he sent home a spectacular scissors kick.

In 10 minutes Buffs won a free-kick 25 yards out and the set-piece from Liam McGuinness was blocked by a defender. Two minutes later McGuinness shot narrowly wide from 22 yards as Buffs battled to increase their lead.

Rose had their best chance in 14 minutes when a 25-yard shot from Blair Batchelor was deflected wide by a home defender. Dean Agnew whipped a cross into the box in 17 minutes but a visiting defender hooked the ball away.

Home goalie Adam Strain dived to save a 20-yard drive from Kevin Kelbie two minutes later. Buffs came so close in 21 minutes when Ben Lewis sent a precision pass to Dean Agnew whose effort from eight yards was deflected wide by a defender.

The hosts had a minor panic in 26 minutes when Strain fumbled a Colin Strickland header but the defence cleared the danger. Buffs had another great chance two minutes later when Agnew had a 25-yard effort well saved.

However on the half hour Buffs stormed into a 2-0 lead when Tommy Maitland blasted the ball home from just inside the box.

Rose came close in 35 minutes when a Jamie McKenzie header from 12 yards was deflected wide by the home defence. It looked like game over in 39 minutes when the ball broke to Agnew and he blasted home from 16 yards.

Buffs picked up where they had left off after the break and three minutes in Joe Coleman swung over a precision cross to Ross Stewart, who headed inches wide of target from six yards.

Back at the other end Ryan Baptie sent a shot from the edge of the box narrowly wide in 53 minutes.

Good play by Agnew won Buffs a corner-kick a minutes later. And from the resultant set-piece delivered by McGuinness a Martyn Campbell header was saved on the line by visiting goalie Ally Adams.

However Rose reduced the leeway when Kelbie capitalised on a rare concentration lapse in the home rearguard by crashing home a shot from 12 yards.

But, far from faze Buffs the loss of a goal only served to galvanise the hosts who came close seven minutes later when a 30-yard Coleman free-kick glanced narrowly over the bar.

Strain then made a fine save to keep out a header from Graham Weir, who scored against Irvine Meadow in the previous round.

The home side continued to press and in 72 minutes a Ross Stewart effort from 25 yards was well handled by Ally Adam.

Agnew's thunderous 25-yard drive produced a vintage reflex save from the visiting goalie in 75 minutes. Strain again showed his class, making a great save to foil Chris Gray from 25 yards two minutes later.

Four minutes from time Buffs scored again with another vintage strike. Inspirational Agnew whipped over another cross and Stewart was able to power home a header from six yards, despite colliding with the keeper

Buffs are now unbeaten in more than five months and on this evidence they will be a tough nut for anyone to crack in the quarter-finals.

KILWINNING RANGERS: Strain; Coleman, Fleeting, Kerr, Campbell, Maitland, Agnew, McGuinness, Stewart, Lewis, Boylan. Subs: Burns, Cashmore, Cumming, Hanvey, Boyd