Shotts Bon Accord boss John McKeown praised his side for producing some of their best football this season in their West of Scotland Cup first round win over Port Glasgow.
McKeown’s side swept past the Parklea side 5-1 courtesy of an Ally Martin double, plus strikes from Paul McGeough, Kyle Richford and Craig Hastings, as they backed up last week’s Junior Cup shock win over Rossvale with another solid display.
And McKeown was delighted with the manner in which his side secured their progress to round two.
He said: “It was a good win. I thought we were excellent to be honest. We played some lovely football and played some of the best stuff we’ve played all season.
“It was good and we made six changes from the team that beat Rossvale in the Scottish Junior Cup last week. So we managed to involve a couple of the U20s players and we got them a run. It was good to give them that as well.
“It’s nice when we are able to change it up. Some of the players were disappointed not to play against Rossvale last week, so we told them to go and show us what they can do.
“To be fair to all the players, they were all excellent and now I have a bit of a headache!
“I have trust in my squad and in my young boys I have.”
Meanwhile, McKeown is hopeful his side’s Hannah Park surface can hold up after having to play Saturday’s match with Port Glasgow away from home.
It was originally scheduled to be played at home for Shotts but travel was needed after a spell of heavy weather hit Hannah Park hard.
While away to Lesmahagow in Conference A this weekend, Shotts’ five of the next six scheduled fixtures are all set to be played at home - including a Scottish Junior Cup fifth round match with Auchinleck Talbot.
McKeown said: “After Lesmahagow we have four games in a row in February. That’s madness as our park has taken a hammering. It’s a lot to ask of it.
“We have one of the best playing surfaces at this level but it’s been affected by the weather and all the games we have had. Hopefully our park holds up and we get a proper run at it.
“It’s probably at its worst since I have been at the club. We had to switch parks as a bit of work was getting done on it to see if we can help it.
“There was no point getting work done on the Friday and then we destroy it the next day. It would be a waste so we contacted Port Glasgow and were able to use their astro.
“Playing on an astro pitch helped us. It meant we were able to play football and it’s all changed now for the younger generation. It’s changed from the old juniors on a grass park where the ball got lumped.
“Most guys have played pro youth and they are all coached to pass the ball. I thought some of our passing stuff was brilliant and the whole team showed what they could do.
“We scored some quality goals as well.”
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