Auchinleck dominance, Camelon shock Edinburgh City, and late drama in Elgin – Scottish Cup Round 3 Review

Auchinleck dominance, Camelon shock Edinburgh City, and late drama in Elgin – Scottish Cup Round 3 Review

Scottish Cup Round 3 had everything and more that we hoped for. One postponement, 19 games with 61 goals in total, it was peak Scottish football, so here is your round-up of all the games.

Linlithgow Rose 1-3 Queen’s Park

The first game of the round, and it didn’t disappoint. It already seemed there could be a shock on the cards after Connor McMullan gave Linlithgow a shock 1-0 lead at Prestonfield. The Spiders fought back through a Euan Murray equaliser and avoided any blushes when Grant Savoury and Josh Fowler secured the win for Queen’s Park, who will travel to face Stranraer in the next round.

Airdrieonians 4-0 Hamilton

Despite their troubles behind the scenes, Hamilton came into this game losing just one of their last six and battled well to stay in the game in the first half, with the score 0-0 at half-time. Unfortunately for the Accies, the Diamonds, who sit at the bottom of the Championship, had too much quality for them in the second 45, scoring three in just 11 minutes, running away with the win, and adding a fourth in the 72nd minute through Lewis McGrattan, his second of the game. Airdrie will face Arbroath at home in the fourth round.

Banks O’Dee 0-2 Ross County

The Staggies have been in freefall this season; after sacking Don Cowie in August, their results haven’t improved much under Tony Docherty. They sit 9th in the Championship, only above Airdrieonians. This win will give them some much-needed confidence, with Ronan Hale and Jordan White grabbing the goals that sent them through to the fourth round, where they face Jens Berthel Askou’s in-form Motherwell side at Fir Park. County fans will be hoping for a cup run that would lift their spirits after their dismal start to the season.

Annan Athletic 4-0 Buckie Thistle

This game was seen as a potential banana skin for Wullie Gibson and his side, with their only win in their last five coming against Kilmarnock B, while Buckie Thistle hadn’t lost any of their last five in the Highland League. Despite this, Annan wasted no time, and Tommy Muir opened the scoring after just six minutes. He grabbed his second just a minute after the restart for the second half, and Charlie Maxwell and Myles Gaffney added Annan’s third and fourth to secure the win. For their efforts, the Galabankies have been rewarded with a trip to Ibrox, a massive tie for the League Two side, and one that will fund the club for years to come.

Camelon Juniors 2-1 Edinburgh City

Our first big shock of the round. After defeating ex-SPFL side Albion Rovers, and Johnstone Borough, Camelon Juniors hosted Edinburgh City, looking to extend their record-breaking run. They did just that, with a 91st-minute winner sending all at Carmuirs Park into absolute ecstasy. They will now host Elgin City in the next round, a tie that on paper looks winnable given their performance in the previous round.

Ayr United 3-0 Turiff United

Scott Brown’s side swept aside an out-of-form Turiff United side, who sit 14th in the Highland League. They strolled into the fourth round after Curtis Main, Dylan Watret, and Dominic Thomas secured the win and set up a trip to Tannadice for The Honest Men.

Stranraer 2-1 Clydebank

Stranraer narrowly avoided losing to Lowland League Clydebank at Stair Park. They needed an extra-time winner from Ryan Edgar and for Clydebank to be reduced to 10 men to see out the lead. They will host Queen’s Park in the next round.

Dumbarton 0-4 Auchinleck Talbot

Possibly the performance of the round, Auchinleck absolutely dismantled Dumbarton at the rock. With both Connor Boyd and Kyle McAvoy grabbing braces, The Dot secured passage to the next round and a mammoth home tie vs Celtic, where their hospitality tickets are already sold out for the fixture.

Benburb 0-3 Montrose

It was always going to be a tough ask for Benburb, as they were the lowest-ranked team still in the competition prior to the round. Montrose had no intention of being involved in their fairytale story, scoring two inside the first five minutes to settle any nerves. It was plain sailing from there, and when Blair Lyons added a third, it was game over. They will travel to Partick, to take on Mark Wilson’s side.

East Fife 0-2 Arbroath

Semi-professional Arbroath’s impressive season continues after easing past League One’s East Fife. They were favourites to progress, and did so promptly, with Championship POTM Findlay Marshall opening the scoring after nine minutes. Gavin Reilly added a second just before half-time, and The Red Lichties saw out the game comfortably. Arbroath will travel and face Airdrieonians in the next round.

Bonnyrigg Rose 1-2 Spartans

It was an eventful first 25 minutes at New Dundas Park, as The Spartans went 2-0 up within thirteen minutes. Bonnyrigg’s Neil Martynuik pegged the League Two leaders back in the 22nd minute to bring the game back into life. It was a tense game, but the Spartans managed to hold on and progress through to the next round, where they will face the winner of Tranent vs Inverness, which was called off due to a waterlogged pitch.

Elgin City 4-2 Stirling Albion

Wow. What a game.

Oliver Colloty opened the scoring moments before half-time to give Elgin an arguably undeserved lead. He himself could have had a hat-trick if he’d have taken his chances on the night, but I’m sure he won’t mind given his side’s progression. The Binos came out flying in the second half, scoring two in ten minutes to flip the tie on its head. It was scrappy from 70 minutes onwards, with Elgin pinning Stirling in their own half and creating chance after chance. It seemed it wasn’t to be, but again, in the dying moments of the half, Elgin produced a moment of magic. Centre-back Jack Murray was the hero, putting the ball into the back of the Stirling net to break Bino hearts. Stirling failed to pick themselves back up after conceding so late and fell apart in extra time, conceding two in the first period. Elgin will face Camelon Juniors in the next round.

Dunfermline Athletic 2-1 Queen Of The South

This was another tie that sparked into action instantly, Queen Of South taking the lead in the 4th minute through a John Tod own goal. Dunfermline came straight back just three minutes later, Christopher Kane equalising. Just eight minutes later, there he was again, Kane adding his second to put The Pars in-front. They defended resolutely, seeing out the lead at East End Park and being rewarded with a tie at home vs Hibs in the next round.

Peterhead 2-2 Greenock Morton

For Greenock Morton, this was their first game in almost four years where Dougie Imrie wasn’t the man leading The Tonne. Billy Davies, interim manager, guided the boys from Greenock to an important win in the cup. Peterhead took the lead in the first half, but Morton, similarly to Stirling, flipped the game on its head quickly in the second half. But then, a second yellow to Tomi Adeloye plunged the game into chaos. Peterhead pushed for an equaliser and managed to find it in dramatic fashion in the 90th minute.

After a goalless extra time, it was penalties. Keeper James Storer saved Jason Brown’s penalty and Cammy Ballantyne was the one to secure progression for Morton. They will face an in-form Stenhousemuir side in the next round.

Forfar Athletic 0-2 Partick Thistle

It was a casual day out for the Jags. Ben Stanway opened the scoring in the 21st minute, and Alex Samuel added a second in injury time to add the cherry on top. Partick Thistle will host League One Montrose in the next round.

Raith Rovers 1-0 Alloa Athletic

Dougie Imrie got off to the perfect start, securing progression at Starks Park with Jordan Docherty securing the win with his goal in the 28th minute. They will travel to Pittodrie to face Jimmy Thelin’s Aberdeen.

Kelty Hearts 2-0 Brechin City

Kelty Hearts came into the tie rock bottom of League One, while Brechin City sit top of the Highland League; each team’s form couldn’t be more different. It had the makings of a potential upset, but it didn’t transpire that way. 27-year-old Innes Murray opened the scoring after sixteen minutes, and Alex Ferguson doubled Kelty’s lead just after the hour mark. It went from bad to worse for Brechin when Cillian Sheridan was shown a straight red, and after they were reduced to 10 men, there was no way back for the Hedgemen. Kelty will host Cove Rangers in the next round.

St Johnstone 1-2 Cove Rangers

It’s been a largely positive season for Saints fans, but this will be a major dampener. Cove Rangers, who sit joint bottom of League One, dumped them out of the Scottish Cup after battling back from 1-0 down, grabbing their winner in extra time. They will travel to face Kelty Hearts in the next round.

Stenhousemuir 4-1 Clachnacuddin

Stenhousemuir ran riot at Ochilview vs Highland League side Clachnacuddin, putting four past them in the first half alone, including a Finlay Gray brace. Harry Nicholson scored a consolation goal for the Lilywhites, but it’s Stenny that progressed and that will host Greenock Morton.

And there you have it! The round-up of all nineteen round 3 matchups.

What are the shocks you are predicting for round 4?!