14/09/2018  |  South of Scotland

Cumbernauld Colts   4  v  0  Arniston Rangers

COLTS eased their way into the third round of the SFA South Region Challenge Cup on Friday evening with a comfortable victory over Arniston Rangers.

Goals from Callum MacDonald, Stephen O'Neill, Fraser Team and a Stephen Wilson own goal ensured the visitors from the East of Scotland league left Broadwood empty handed.

The Cumbernauld men were much changed from their last competitive outing against Edusport, with co-managers James Orr and Craig McKinlay making no fewer than eight changes to the starting eleven.

Greg Pascazio, Scott Davidson and Paul Nash were the only starters from the recent win over Edusport, meaning that the majority of the usual starting eleven will be well rested for next week's massive Scottish Cup first round tie at Burntisland.

Colts started well and almost took the lead inside the opening 5 minutes when Scott Davidson broke from defence and drove into the heart of the Arniston rear-guard before shooting narrowly past the left hand post of Darren McBey.

The hosts went close again in 15 minutes when O'Neill nipped past Liam Taylor on the right and slid a low cross into the danger area where Nash should have scored but the young midfield couldn't divert the ball goal wards.

Colts continued to dominate the game for the remainder of the first half and should have really turned their possession into goals with Michael Wallace and again Davidson going closest to breaking the deadlock.

The Broadwood men started the second half where they left off in the first and were eventually rewarded for their dominance when they opened the scoring in 50 minutes.

The lively Craig Henderson was found inside the box by Wallace and when the youngster couldn't find an angle to get a shot on goal he laid the ball into the path of MacDonald who rifled an unstoppable shot high past McBey from a tight angle.

Colts looked keen to quickly put the game to bed and they immediately went searching for a second with it only being a matter of time before they found the net again.

Just before the hour mark Colts thought they had their second when Henderson sent an audacious free-kick towards goal, but the ball came crashing back of the cross bar.

But this was just a sign of things to come, as Colts doubled their lead in 62 minutes when the returning O'Neill decided he was next up on the free kick's, and no one was arguing with him when the winger sent a tremendous free kick from all of 35 yards sailing over the helpless McBey into the top corner, it was a fantastic strike.

Then only a minute later Henderson latched onto a loose back pass and attempted to slide the ball into the path of Wallace, but the ball was diverted into the Arniston net by defender Wilson with McBey stranded.

Colts were now well in control of the game and looked like they could score at will.

And in 70 minutes they further extended their lead when a great move involving Nash and Henderson was finished off by sub Fraser Team who latched onto Henderson's low cross and finished superbly at the near post giving McBey no chance.

The Cumbernauld men created a few chances in the closing stages but couldn't add to their tally, however the victory wasn't in doubt by this stage and Colts can now look forward to the third round draw.

Arniston Rangers; McBey; Boyne; Taylor, S Wilson, Jones, Summers, Gordon, Power, A Wilson, Houldcroft-Doig, Toulouse. Subs; Cranston, Carlin, McCaul, Joyce.