McAllister celebrates

By FOS Editor
March 12 2011

The first two Scottish Cup quarter finals of the weekend ended in draws, with the match of the day being the one ignored by the TV companies.

The first game of the day was at Paisley between home side St. Mirren and Aberdeen, and in truth wasn’t a great spectacle for the BBC Scotland viewers.

The first half would have had many reaching for the remote control to turn over to watch anything on any other channel, even the pundits at half time were struggling to come up with anything positive to say about the tie.

Then St. Mirren introduced Michael Higdon on the hour mark and he certainly seemed to liven things up, and he was instrumental in setting up the opening goal of the game in the 77^th minute.

A Dargo cross picked out Higdon at the far post and his volleyed cross back into the six yard box was turned in from close range by Paul McGowan. Saints had further chances to seal the win in the closing stages, but they were denied by some fine goalkeeping by Jamie Langfield.

It looked as though Saints would progress as the game headed into four minutes of stoppage time but there was to be a sting in the tail. Paul Hartley sent a free kick into the box and this caused all sorts of panic before McArdle fired in from close range.

The replay will take place on Wednesday night at Pittodrie.

The second game of the afternoon, ignored by TV Cameras, turned out to be a fantastic good old fashioned cup tie played out on a mud bath at Glebe Park between Brechin and St. Johnstone.

Brechin went into half item in the lead thanks to a penalty from top scorer Rory McAllister. Janczyk tumbled in the box and despite appeals from Saints defenders for a penalty the ref awarded a spot kick. Janczyk took the first effort but the ref awarded a re-take which was converted by McAllister.

Saints made a great start to the second half as they took the lead within 17 minutes of the second half. The opening goal was scored by sub Miller whose volley managed to trundle over the line. Then Danny Invincible headed the Saints into the lead and what looked like a path into the semi finals.

But the home side were not to be denied and they got a well deserved equaliser with 12 minutes left when McAllister turned to fire home a cross from Molloy to set up a grandstand finish.

Neither side could add to their tally and they will now play again a week on Tuesday to see if Brechin can make their first ever semi final.