Dougie MacDuff admitted relief was his overriding emotion as Irvine Vics sneaked a Scottish Junior Cup shootout win against Fraserburgh United.
The Westenders needed a last-gasp Kevin Adam penalty to snatch a 2-2 draw and send Saturday’s first round tie at Vics Park to spot kicks.
A perfect record in the shootout saw Vics clinch a 5-4 win after Ross Taylor hit the bar for the visitors.
But boss MacDuff reckons his players were fortunate to come through unscathed - and set up a second round clash away to Troon – after a below-par display.
And he insists they will need to raise their game for this weekend’s return to league action away to Bellshill.
He said: “Cup football is always tricky but our performance wasn’t at the level it’s been at recently.
“We were missing six players but that’s not an excuse because that’s why we have a squad.
“The door was open for players to come in and show what they can do. But it wasn’t just them - the boys who have been playing didn’t raise their game either.
“We’re through and I suppose that’s the main thing, but the lesson has to be that we can’t afford to let our standards drop. You do that and you run the risk of getting caught out.
“We’ll look forward to going to Troon – they’ve a great set-up there – and we’ve nothing to lose because they will be the favourites.
“But the league is our bread and butter and we need to make sure we are back at it against Bellshill.”
Vics survived a major scare inside the first 10 minutes when Taylor pounced on Steven Gaffney’s short headed back pass, rounded goalkeeper Owen McCallum and shot into the side netting.
The hosts went on to dominate the remainder of the first half however with Gerald Clark, Adam and John McLaughlan all wasting good chances to open the scoring.
Adam was thwarted by a good save and a goal-line clearance early in the second half before finally making the breakthrough in 67 minutes with a fine strike from 17 yards.
But parity was restored three minutes later when Gaffney tripped Jake West in the box and Taylor tucked away the resultant spot kick.
Vics were then left staring at an early exit when West netted via a fortunate deflection off Gaffney to put Fraserburgh 2-1 in front.
But with two minutes left, Shane Jackson and Fraserburgh captain Neil Haye tangled legs in the box and the Vics’ man got the benefit of the doubt to throw his side a lifeline from the spot.
Adam squeezed home his effort from 12 yards before netting again in the shootout along with Chris Jackson , Lewis McCracken, Graham Condon and Clarke.
Don't miss the latest Ayrshire headlines – sign up to our free daily newsletter here
