John McKeown “wasn’t overly impressed” by his Shotts side on Saturday, but admits he’s happy to be through to the South Challenge Cup third round after his 10-men made heavy work of Rossvale Academy.
And the Hannah Park gaffer says he expects a far tougher test at home to promotion favourites Rutherglen Glencairn this weekend in the West of Scotland League First Division.
Shotts needed extra-time to see off their opponents in the cup clash. Craig Hastings’ opener was cancelled out by Rossvale as they took a 2-1 lead, with Paul McGeough equalising before Danny Hashim picked up a second booking for a hand-ball offence going into extra-time.
But Chris Meikle scored a winner to set up a third-round tie at home to Dundonald Bluebell on November 19.
McKeown said: “We made quite a lot of changes, seven or eight to the starting 11, to give boys an opportunity – but I wasn’t overly impressed by it.
“We had a lot of the ball and most of the chances, but we looked a bit shaky defensively, and missed so many chances.
“We had to rely on some of the more experienced guys coming on to take us through the tie with 10 men.
“The main thing in cup football is to progress, and we made it hard for ourselves, but fair play to Rossvale, they’re a young side who worked really hard.
“I wasn’t overly pleased with it, but the positives were getting Paul McGeough back on the park after his fractured ankle. He came on, scored and made a real difference.”
Looking ahead to Saturday’s game, McKeown hopes to have more players back from the treatment room, but says they will still be short.
He said: “That will be a tough one; Glencairn are a right good side, they’re probably one of the favourites for promotion from our league, so it will be a massive step-up, in terms of opposition, this week.
“We’ve still got a few missing, there were still three or four on Saturday. But Paul McGeough came through it unscathed, Chris Meikle got another game under his belt, so we’re definitely getting closer.
“For a long period there we had seven or eight out, and now it’s only three or four.”
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