Broxburn 1 Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts 2
AN "historic" day for the Swifts as they booked a place in the final of the East of Scotland Qualifying Cup with a win at high-flying Broxburn.
On their own patch, the league leaders were hot favourites to progress but Inverkeithing were 2-0 up and goalie Michael Gibb saved a penalty before they had a man sent off and the home side immediately scored.
With around 15 minutes left, Broxburn piled on the pressure in search of a leveller but the Swifts held firm and will now face Dunbar in the final on April 28.
Boss Jason McCrindle joked: "I think I aged about 15 years but we got over the line!
"To reach the first final as a senior club, I'm glad to be part of it but I'm more pleased for the players and everyone connected with the Swifts as they've been through some tough times.
"It was an historic day.
"To even reach a semi-final was a big achievement but the boys were determined to reach the final.
"The way they performed over the whole 90 minutes, they were unbelievable."
Swifts put their faith in youth with nine of the squad from Saturday's match making their way into the top team through the player pathway, while the starting 11 had an average age of just over 22. A video showing the celebrations in the changing room was doing the rounds on social media over the weekend and McCrindle laughed: "Not many singers?
"There's not many dancers in there either!
"I reckon there were a few sore heads on Sunday morning but it was fully deserved.
"There was a fair backing at the match so I'm hoping we'll be able to take as many fans as we can to the final."
The Swifts had defeated Whitburn, Pumpherston, Fauldhouse United and, most notably, Lowland League side Gala Fairydean Rovers to reach the semi but they were underdogs at Albyn Park.
Broxburn top the Premier League, a whopping 40 points ahead of their 13th placed opponents, and in a home match earlier this month they had come back from 2-0 down to beat Inverkeithing 5-2.
McCrindle said: "It doesn't get much better does it? When we faced them a few weeks ago we played really well.
"This time we held out. Defensively we were brilliant as they threw everything at us.
"We got our heads on crosses, made blocks and tackles, the keeper made saves and we had a man sent off too.
"It was some effort."
Aaron Wood scored to put the Swifts 1-0 up at half-time with a strike "fit to win the cup itself never mind a semi-final".
McCrindle said: "He's got the ability and the technique to fire it in the top corner and that's exactly what happened. A fantastic goal, the build-up play too.
"I rate Aaron really highly. We're a better team when he's in there."
Just before the hour mark fellow striker Luke Mahady converted a spot kick to make it 2-0 before they conceded a "dubious" penalty.
The coach felt justice was done when Gibb made the save but the anxiety levels were back through the roof when Michael Paterson was sent off for a second booking - McCrindle said it "wasn't even a foul far less a booking" - and Athletic scored from the resulting free kick.
The Swifts boss confessed: "I was thinking 'Not again' but fair play to the guys, they saw it out."
They'll now face another Premier League side, Dunbar, in the final after the East Lothian side smashed Dunipace 4-1 in the other semi.
McCrindle said: "It's something for us to look forward to but we've got a lot of big games before then.
"That's the frustrating thing for the coaches.
"You can see they've got performances like that in them but they have to replicate that in every game and get the results to keep us in the league."
Crossgates Primrose 1 Tynecastle 3
AFTER their morale boosting win in the Premier League at Hill of Beath Hawthorn last Tuesday night, Crossgates were looking to follow it up at home against Tynecastle.
But despite starting the match well, Primrose fell behind in the 26th minute and just after the half hour mark the capital side had doubled their lead.
On the hour Tynecastle netted their third goal but a red card for the visitors gave Crossgates a glimmer of hope.
They pushed the 10 men back and created chances but didn't take one until the 89th minute when Marley Sweenie-Rowe got on the scoresheet.
It wasn't enough and the defeat leaves Primrose in relegation bother, second bottom of the table and four points from safety with eight games to play.
They do have an instant shot at revenge though as they face Tynie in the League Cup on Saturday.
Oakley United 0 St Andrews 2
OAKLEY remain deep in the First Division mire after promotion-chasing St Andrews downed them with two first half goals.
Peter Goldie's men remain second bottom of the league, nine points from safety, albeit they do have a game in hand.
Hopes of chalking up a third win of the season - their two victories have both come against bottom side Vale of Leithen - were dashed when a quickfire double, from Lewis Sawers and Lewis Payne, put the visitors 2-0 up at half-time.
Oakley had a chance to pull a goal back from the penalty spot but it was saved.
Saturday fixtures (kick-off 2.30pm): Premier Division - Luncarty v Inverkeithing HS; First Division - Oakley v Kirkcaldy & Dysart; League Cup - Tynecastle v Crossgates.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here