Scottish Cup

By FOS Editor
January 11 2011

Brechin City and St. Johnstone caused some minor shocks in the Scottish Cup tonight by knocking out Queen of the South and Hearts respectively.

Before the game at Tynecastle all the talk was about Hearts and how they were in line to cash in on the Old Firm being drawn together, with Saint Johnstone almost written off.

It looked for a long spell as though the game was heading for a hard fought 0-0 and a replay at McDiarmid Park. That was until Peter McDonald came off the bench and popped up with a winner with four minutes left on the clock.

There was still time for Hearts to push forward and in the dying stages Peter Enckleman pulled off a stunning save from Steven Elliot to ensure the Saints progressed to a tie with either Partick Thistle or Falkirk.

One of the major talking points of the game was once again the attendance on the night, only 6261 bothering to turn out following another pricing dispute between the two sides.

Maybe it is time for clubs to realise it is better to get more in for a lower entry fee rather than playing in front of swathes of empty seats.

Down at Palmerston Second Division challengers Brechin City were dominant in the opening period of the game, and were deservedly two goals up at the break.

Kevin Byers fired the visitors in front in the 17th minute with a low shot from 20 yards out. The prolific Rory McAllister doubled Brechin's lead ten minutes before half-time with a shot high into the net.

Queens rebounded in the second half when Colin McMenamin pulled one back, and it took a fine save from veteran Craig Nelson to deny Queens a replay.

Brechin now have a great chance of making the Quarter Finals when they take on East Stirling or Buckie Thistle in the last 16.

Falkirk and Partick will have to do it all again to decide who takes on St. Johnstone in the last 16. Thistle were ahead in 8 minutes through Buchanan but were behind thanks to goals from Millar and Compton for the Bairns. Thistle sealed the replay when Doohlan scored with only four minutes left.

For me this was a good night for the Scottish Cup and ensures we have some interesting names making it into the latter stages, and allowing a smaller club a great chance to match the feats of Ross County, Gretna and Queen of the South in recent years.