Bo'ness boss admits better team won after semi loss

BO'NESS boss Willie Newbigging watched his Emirates Scottish Cup dream disappear after just two minutes of this semi-final second leg but emerged from the home dressing-room after the final whistle to insist there had been no shouting and bawling.

Instead, he felt praise should be heaped on Ayrshire aces Auchinleck after they added the East Super League champions alongside Linlithgow and Irvine Meadow among their list of scalps in this season's competition.

"It wasn't the best of starts," said Newbigging of the goal that killed the tie before Bo'ness had a chance to repair the damage caused by a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Tommy Sloan's slick side in the first leg.

Colin Spence swept over a cross from the left and it was far too easy for James Latta as he stroked the ball past a helpless Jordan Longmuir.

"There's no excuses as you can't defend like that," added Newbigging. "But you have to give credit where credit is due. They're a good side and a hard-working one. You can see how they are successful year in year out."

John Fraser almost headed into his own net after Longmuir had rushed out of his box before the mountain Bo'ness were trying to climb became bigger in the 19th minute.

Brian Young's corner to the back post was headed down by David Gillies and centre-half Gavin Collins found the top corner with a sliced shot.

On a day when Bo'ness offered little threat, there was certainly no way back after Auchinleck went 3-0 up in the second-half with a goal of sheer quality.

Young and substitute John Boyle opened up the Bo'ness defence with some neat interchange on the left side of the box and Gillies buried a shot past Longmuir. "I don't think we competed today," said Newbigging after his side claimed what was no more than a late consolation as substitute Grant Plenderleith capitalised on the only mistake the visitors made the whole afternoon in defence.

"I think they were the more hungry team and that was the difference on the day. I think this is more disappointing than the Buckie result (in the SFA Scottish Cup) because we feel that we aren't far away.

"We started last season with a brand new team and feel we are progressing. We've got to the semi-finals and it's not an embarrassment getting knocked out by a team like Auchinleck.

"There's no time for anyone to feel sorry for themselves. We've got a game against Musselburgh on Monday night and the Fife & Lothians Cups is another competition we want to do well in. We'll be aiming to roll the sleeves up and bounce back."

Sloan reckoned his side were worthy winners in both games. "I thought we were exceptional for the first 25 minutes," he said. "We were really at them, dominated the game and scored two good goals. We could have had more, to be honest.

"It was important to get the first goal. If Bo'ness had got it, the game was back in the melting pot. We wanted to get that goal as defending isn't something we know much about.

"The pitch was great and when we get a decent pitch we are a top side.

"We've played all the top sides on our run and, as far as I'm concerned, I think we have always deserved to win."

Bo'ness United: Longmuir, McQueen, Fleming, Duffin, Hunter, Fraser (Hay 56), Donnelly, Shirra, McFadyen (Plenderleith 56), McLaren, Walker. Subs: Ballantine, Cooper, Forrest, Ure, Baillie.

Auchinleck: Leishman, Slavin, McVey, McGoldrick, Collins, Spence (Connelly 80), Young, White (Davidson 80), Gillies, McCann (Boyle 73), Latta. Subs: Smith, Mallan, O'Neill, Robb.

Bo'ness United 1

Auchinleck Talbot 3 (aggregate 1-5)