St Cuthbert Wanderers boss Josh Gardner has hailed the club’s committee as well as his players after his side beat Threave Rovers on Saturday.
Saints ran out 3-1 winners against Threave in the Utility Hut South of Scotland Challenge Cup, with the Castle Douglas side also playing a West of Scotland League match against Glenvale the same day.
And Gardner revealed St Mary’s Park was only ready for the match hours before kick-off – the first game at the Kirkcudbright venue for several months after December’s cold spell led to burst pipes causing damage.
He said: “We were asked if we could move it to the Wednesday night.
“We’ve had ongoing issues at the ground so getting a facility for then wasn’t possible.
“On Friday, we had committee members down there to the late hours trying to get the facility available for Saturday.
“The builders didn’t finish until Friday afternoon and it was a huge effort from the committee members to get it ready.
“Some were in on Saturday morning getting it ready so it was a tight squeeze for Saturday, let alone the Wednesday night.
“It was a huge effort from everybody involved and the team Threave were putting out was the last of my worries.
“You would think Threave were the only ones with a selection headache. We had five players out on Saturday as well.
“Threave chose to prioritise the league, which is fair enough, and all we can do is beat what’s in front of us.
“I was told they were sending the kids but I was expecting a lot more than came – I think only two started and most seemed to come on after it was 3-1.
“I’ll just turn up and play against the team there. The boys did that. How Threave want to deal with it
is up to them, I’m only interested in it from a St Cuthbert’s perspective.”
Threave felt they should have had an early penalty following a coming together between Ryan Coates and goalie Kieran Marshall but nothing was given.
Darrell Wilson then put Saints in front with Farrell O’Sullivan adding the second after the
break.
Ben Irving cut the gap before Nick Mullen scored late on to seal victory.
Gardner was particularly pleased for one of his goalscorers after a difficult few days.
He explained: “Darrell Wilson’s dad passed away last week and he has come to the football and bagged himself a goal so I was really pleased for him in a tough week.
“It was really comfortable. We were 2-0 up at half-time and probably should have scored more.
“We had a wee slack period at the start of the second half and they managed to get their goal but after that we reacted brilliantly and it was just a matter of time before we got the third.”
After having so many games away from St Mary’s Park while the damage was repaired, Saints are now on a run of seven successive games at home, with league leaders Creetown the visitors on Saturday.
“Our captain, John Renwick, is suspended but apart from that there shouldn’t be too many changes.”
