Threave Rovers assistant Kevin Somerville believes Saturday’s win over St Cadoc’s justifies the club’s move to the West of Scotland League.
The Castle Douglas side left the South of Scotland League during the summer to start in the fourth division of the West.
And at the weekend they knocked first division leaders St Cadoc’s out of the SFA South Region Challenge Cup - just days after they’d sent first division Whitletts Victoria packing.
Somerville said: “It’s the third time we’ve beaten a team from the first division and it bodes well for the future.
“I think being in the fourth division is a bit false as it’s got seven or eight teams who are better quality than teams from higher leagues. I think teams who go up from the fourth division will be at the top end of the third division next season.
“The important thing is it vindicates the move. Some people thought we would struggle but we’ve shown by taking the scalp of the team top of the first division it was a really good decision.
“It’s given boys in the region a chance to put themselves up against the best in the West of Scotland League and so far we’ve done pretty well.
“One of the boys said before the game they were 53 places above us in the West of Scotland pyramid.
“It was an opportunity for us to see where we’re at and where the squad is sitting and, to be fair to the boys, they gave us all the answers we were looking for.
“We’re into the last 16 and I’m not sure there’s many times a team from here has got that far.”
Threave took the lead after just a couple of minutes on Saturday when Connor Potts pounced to score after Lewis Todd’s shot was saved.
Grant Anderson’s header meant the teams went in at the break level and it looked as if extra-time would be needed to separate the sides.
But five minutes from the end Todd headed Threave back in front – Tam Coles helping the ball over the line – before Dean Brotherston wrapped things up.
Somerville said: “St Cadoc’s are a good team. There were loads of times we had to suffer and didn’t have the ball but I think to a man everybody was outstanding.
“Lewis Todd got man of the match and I don’t grudge him that but it could easily have been anyone.
“Graham Wright made two or three fantastic saves and the guys at the back were unbelievable against really good quality opposition.
“It was a tough week as we’d played BSC Glasgow on a heavy pitch with just 12 boys, then on Wednesday we’d played another first division team.
“At half-time on Saturday I thought we were done and the weekend had caught up with us – but I didn’t tell the boys that!
“I couldn’t believe what I saw from the boys in terms of fight, determination and grit in the second half. Their effort, resilience and determination was unbelievable.”
Threave will face Caledonian Braves in the last 16 – but before then they have to focus on winning promotion from the fourth division.
That bid resumes on Saturday with a tricky trip to Easterhouse.
Somerville said: “If we don’t apply ourselves properly they have the chance to do a job on us. We know if we turn up, apply ourselves and work as hard as we have been, we’ve got players with real quality who can get us over the line.”
