East Kilbride win to set up Celtic tie

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20 Jan 2016

By Kenny Crawford BSports Scotland at K Park

Lowland League side East Kilbride set up a home Scottish Cup meeting with Celtic with victory over Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale.

Jack Smith's stunning half-volley settled Kilby just before half-time, although the visitors had earlier hit the crossbar through Willis Hare.

East Kilbride goalkeeper Matt McGinley denied Hare after the break with a great diving save.

And Sean Winter sealed a money-spinning fifth-round tie from close range.

Whether that match versus Celtic will be allowed to be played at the 500-or-so-capacity K Park remains to be seen, but the result has well and truly put East Kilbride on the map.

BSports Scotland will provide live television, online and radio coverage of the tie on 7 February and the revenue generated will have a significant impact on the club founded in 2010.

The hosts had failed to profit from their early dominance as Anthony Brady's mazy run left him one defender short of being clean through and Craig Hastings dragged a low shot wide of the far post.

Lothian Thistle HV from the East of Scotland League took Kilby's profligacy as encouragement. The hosts' goalkeeper Matt McGinley had to be sharp to deny Hare before the same striker struck the crossbar from 16 yards.

Celtic striker Leigh Griffiths was among the spectators at a busy K Park

An injury to midfielder Ross Smith had East Kilbride rattled for a short spell but they got the crucial first goal shortly before the interval.

The visitors' stand-in keeper Byron Gibb had previously made a couple of decent saves, but had no chance when Smith lashed in from the edge of the box following a blundered defensive clearance.

Scott Gormley missed a half-chance for Lothian Thistle HV early in the second half and it did not take long for Kilby's Brady to cause more problems with his dribbling.

Smith had the opportunity to double his tally but fired wide of the near post.

In the meantime, East Kilbride captain Barry Russell chose to try and change his boots and ended up playing the majority of the second half with one black and one green one.

Hare continued to be Lothian Thistle HV's main threat and McGinley pulled off a brilliant low save to turn the striker's shot round the post.

And the home team could afford to start thinking about their meeting with the Scottish champions in earnest when the seasoned Winter demonstrated his predatory instinct to poke the ball home following an 86th-minute corner.

Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (5)

East Kilbride

01 McGinley
02 Gebbie
04 Stevenson
05 Russell
03 Coll
06 Winter
08 McBride
10 Smith (Johnstone - 25' )
11 Brady
09 Smith
07 Hastings (Gormley - 79' )

Substitutes

12 Johnstone
14 Lachlan
15 Morris
16 Templeton
17 Macdonald
18 Gormley
21 Kean

Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale

01 Gibb
02 Moore
05 Joint
06 Mearns Booked
03 MacKenzie
07 Smith Booked (Fox - 74' )
04 Crawford Booked
08 Kerr (Moffat - 61' )
11 Hare (O'Donnell - 77' )
09 Brown
10 Gormley

Substitutes

12 O'Donnell
14 Shala
15 Moffat
16 Fox
17 Mungall
18 Hendry
20 Ogilvie

Ref: Nick Walsh

Att: 660

Match Stats

Possession 55 45

Shots

8 2

On target

3 1

Corners

10 4

Fouls

3 7

Live Text Commentary

Full time

Full Time Match ends, East Kilbride 2, Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale 0.

90:00 +3:08 Full time

Full Time Second Half ends, East Kilbride 2, Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale 0.

86:13 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! East Kilbride 2, Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale 0. Sean Winter (East Kilbride) left footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal following a corner.