Elgin City stunned hosts Airdrie with two goals right at the death of their Tunnock’s Caramel Wafer Cup match to book a place in Wednesday’s quarter-finals draw.
The Diamonds had pushed and probed throughout but the Black and Whites stood strong and, just when it looked like penalties would be required to separate the sides, Kane Hester flicked Gavin Price’s side ahead.
Shane Sutherland then ensured Elgin’s passage with an injury-time penalty and the striker said: “There was not much between the teams.
“I do not think we could say we deserved to win, and they cannot say they deserved to either.
“Like us they will have been disappointed with the final ball,but it was a cup-tie and we dug in to get the win.”
Airdrie striker Ally Roy looked to bring the game alive on 19 minutes when he went on a solo run that took him deep into enemy territory. However, he was thwarted when Tom McHale stuck out a boot to block the home striker’s shot.
McHale did well again just after the half-hour mark to hold a fierce Dean Hawkshaw volley, with the keeper having to get down low to save from Callum Smith shortly afterwards.
Hester hooked a shot past for Elgin early in the second half before McHale produced his best save of the game when he pushed away Calum Gallagher’s driven effort.
It was Brian Cameron’s turn to keep the scoreline blank 16 minutes from time when he blocked a fierce Hawkshaw effort.
As Airdrie made a late push, Smith looked set to score before Stephen Bronsky made a perfectly timed interception.
With just two minutes remaining, Cameron headed on for Hester to run in behind the home defence and guide the ball beyond the helpless David Hutton in the Airdrie goal.
The second came right on the final whistle. Rabin Omar bundled his way through the Airdrie defence only to be fouled by Callum Fordyce and Sutherland blasted home the resulting penalty.
Sutherland said: “Thomas made the saves we expect from him and our defence did well.
“A few of the boys were picking what number they would be in the shoot-out when Kane scored.
“Rabin went through a few challenges and we kept on wondering why he was not going down and killing the game.
“I think he was more interested in getting a goal but he was eventually chopped down.
“I got a bit of power and height behind the penalty and that took care of that.
“We have not been at home yet so hopefully we can get a home tie.”
‘That competitive side gave us the opportunity to win’
Elgin City manager Gavin Price admitted he would have settled for the tie finishing goalless and taking their chances in a shoot-out but he was delighted to progress to the last eight of the Tunnock’s Caramel Wafer Cup without nerves being frayed on the penalty spot.
The Borough Briggs men surrendered a lot of possession but their defence was not breached and in the closing stages Kane Hester nipped in to open the scoring before Shane Sutherland blasted home an injury-time penalty.
The Black and Whites boss said: “It looked like it was heading for penalties and, to be honest, I would have taken that. However, with the strikers we have we are always liable to nick something. Kane is a good finisher and is a danger to defences when he runs in behind them.
“The scoreline was probably harsh on Airdrie and they will feel they have been sucker-punched but I don’t think there was a lot in the game. They were the home side and are full-time so you would expect them to press us.
“We also did not play at our best. We did not come here fearful of Airdrie but we can play better. We did not believe in ourselves enough and that was frustrating.
“Some of that was down to our opponents but we competed well. That competitive side gave us the opportunity to win.
“They had a lot of the ball without creating anything. We defended well and our keeper and centre-backs were outstanding.”
