Lochee United 5 Lothian Thistle HV 2

Reporter: Jim Davie

Lochee United deservedly went through to the next round of the William Hill Scottish Cup by defeating Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale at a windy and rainswept Thomson Park.

With the elements at their back Lochee went at the visitors from the first whistle. On two minutes, Danny Cavanagh had a shot blocked, but the midfielder was only to be denied by a further minute.

Scott McComiskie played the ball out to CAVANAGH on the left of the box and he sent in a curler that completely deceived keeper David Livie.

Vale tried to hit back and Calvin Jackson unleashed a strong drive which Lochee keeper John Sinclair parried to safety.

On 13 minutes the Bluebells went further ahead. Ross Gallacher found Cavanagh on the left and his dangerous cross into the box was missed by everyone except McCOMISKIE lurking at the far post.

Four minutes later it was almost three, with McComiskie’s shot being parried by Livie into the path of Kevin Milne, but Milne found his effort blocked by a defender.

Two minutes later, confusion in the home defence almost allowed Lothian’s Alex Cunningham a chance to pull one back but Sinclair came out to smother.

On 22 minutes Milne got in behind the visiting defence, rounded the keeper and squared to Cavanagh, but again his effort was blocked by a defender.

Cavanagh’s free kicks and corners were causing alarm in the visiting defence and Livie had to look smart to deal with another of the midfielder’s set pieces.

The action flowed from end to end with Thistle’s Dylan Moore hitting the post and Milne heading a Cavanagh cross just wide.

Two minutes before the break the visitors pulled one back. Cunningham found Sean Wringe on the edge of the Lochee box and he shrugged off a challenge before curling a beauty into the top corner.

For all their superiority Lochee were only one up at the break and that was almost cancelled out five minutes into the second period when Craig Dickson was presented with a chance that Sinclair saved.

However, Lochee regained their two-goal advantage on 53 minutes when a Cavanagh corner was helped on by Garry Kenneth and MILNE was on the spot to drive the ball home.

Logan Davie was on top form for the home side and his terrific cross from the right was just missed by both Milne and McComiskie.

On 65 minutes there was a slight scare for Lochee fans when Sinclair misjudged a long ball out of defence, allowing it to go over his head and towards his goal.

But it was back to the other end with Davie once again setting up Milne who shot straight at keeper Livie.

The visitors weren’t out of it by any means and, after Danny Millar had cleared off the line from Dickson, they were awarded a penalty with 20 minutes to go.

Darren Smith expertly tucked it away for 3-2.

With five minutes to go Lochee sealed the win, a Cavanagh corner being turned in by MILLAR.

There was an altercation between Milne and Lothian’s Connor McGregor which resulted in a red card for the visiting defender and Lochee wrapped up the scoring in added time when Davie’s corner from the left was headed in by McCOMISKIE.

Lochee United: Sinclair, Cameron (Lawson 70), D Millar, Kenneth, Cavanagh, McComiskie, McNally, Gallacher (Ritchie 85), Davie, Blair, Milne (Buchan 85).

Lothian Thistle HV: Livie, Moore, Jackson, Crawford, Smeaton (Lally 65), McGregor, Dickson (Ormiston 85), Smith, Wringe, Cunningham, Doherty (Hendry 55).