Brechin City Scottish Cup hero Craig Molloy has insisted the second division part-timers are still in with a big chance of progressing to the semi-finals, even though he admitted he was keen to gamble on getting a winner in Saturday’s thrilling draw with St Johnstone.
On 86 minutes he missed the target when a famous hat-trick was beckoning, before he went down with cramp as a result of his exertions.
Just when it appeared both teams were ready to accept they would have to go to a replay, Perth sub Steven Reynolds missed the chance of the day with a minute left on the clock by scooping the ball over from point-blank range.
It may have been a thrilling edge-of-the-seat ride for the neutral but, according to St Johnstone midfielder Millar, the fact that the Perth men were part of a cup tie that will live long in the memory of all those who were at Glebe Park did not get them off the hook with their irate manager.
Saints boss McInnes hasn’t had call to rip into his players much this season, but Millar revealed that was exactly what he did at full-time after they had flirted with a Scottish Cup exit.
The second half substitute, who made an immediate impact by levelling the scores with almost his first touch, couldn’t attest to what went on in the dressing room during the interval, but it can be reasonably assumed that the half-time talking to was from the same script.
As Millar explained, though, it wasn’t just a manager’s rant for the sake of venting his fury, the verbal volley was used to make sure Saints are at their best for the replay at McDiarmid Park a week on Tuesday.
He said, “I was warming up to come on after the first half so I can’t say what happened then, but I do know that we certainly got our backsides kicked in the dressing room after the match, and quite rightly so.
“He let us know exactly what he thought. The gaffer was bang on with what he was saying and we have to make sure it doesn’t happen again. We know full well that we’re fortunate to still be in the competition. Brechin did really well and full credit to them.”
The former Morton man stressed that Saints’ below-par performance could not be attributed to an under-estimation of their lower league opponents.
“We paid them every respect. This was one of the biggest games of our season. We certainly had no complacency we just didn’t put in the display that we expected.”
Molloy and McAllister have been the two Brechin men most heavily linked with moves to full-time clubs recently. The former didn’t want to speak for his team-mate but he stressed it would take an excellent offer to convince him to take the gamble.
He said, “We’ve all got day jobs. I’m a care worker at children’s homes. If there was an approach I’d have to look at it, but this is the most I’ve ever enjoyed my football. There was paper talk about me moving in the last transfer window but nobody ever spoke to me.
“As far as Rory goes, he’s a top player who is good enough to play in the SPL, no bother. But he’s got a good job as a plumber and it will be up to him if he wants to do that.”
McInnes was in no doubt that McAllister, and his team’s failure to curb him, was the chief reason the tie became tricky.
“I don’t think we handled him in the whole game, and he always looked likely to give Brechin something,” he said.
Weir said, “It was a great game for the supporters and I’m delighted we’re still in the cup. It’s the least we deserve. We’ll look forward to the replay.
“I found it a strange decision at the time that this game was left out when it came to which ones would be televised. Hopefully we’ve shown exactly why it should have been on.”
That they did.
The Angus outfit had deservedly levelled the tie at 2-2 and in the dying moments the midfielder was determined to press on for a dramatic clincher. Boss Jim Weir had other ideas, though as the former St Mirren man revealed.
“Towards the end I was screaming to get up but I think the gaffer was telling me to get back because he’ll be hoping the replay is on Sky!” he said. “Obviously this was probably our best chance, but we’ll see how it goes in Perth.
“St Johnstone are a top team and they’ll fancy their chances at their place but there will be no pressure on us and we’ll enjoy the replay. We train at McDiarmid every Thursday so, when you take into account that we only play at home every other week, we’re actually in Perth more than we are at Brechin.
“Another good performance on the day might be good enough who knows?”
At a time when Scottish football is in dire need of any nugget of good publicity it can get, what a crying shame that the 3472 paying customers were the only people who got the opportunity to watch Saturday’s captivating quarter-final.
Ahead of the match rival managers Weir and Derek McInnes had expressed their incredulity that Sky and, in particular, the BBC, had decided that this was the least interesting of the four last-eight encounters, and as such wasn’t deemed worthy of being broadcast live.
It was sadly all too predictable that the SPL against SPL clashes would be chosen, but what unfolded at Brechin proved what a short-sighted decision that was. This was a throwback cup tie the like of which doesn’t come round too often. It had the lot commitment, controversy and chances galore.
Perhaps the most important ingredient of all was the pitch, a quagmire of a surface that had first been cleared of snow and was subsequently worked over by anybody who could lay their hands on a pitch fork Weir and Perth chairman Geoff Brown among them.
After two referees’ inspections the end result was underfoot conditions that would have made the purist wince, but provided a boggy stage for a blood and thunder contest.
The tone was set in the sixth minute when both sides struck the woodwork. First a Liam Craig shot hit the underside of the bar but didn’t cross the line, and then play raced up the other end and Kevin Byers steered a low side-footed effort on to Peter Enckelman’s left-hand post.
Continued…
Even when there was a lull in goalmouth action, the tempo and intensity of the match never let up as was the case for the next half hour.
It went up a notch on 40 minutes, though, when the home side were awarded a controversial penalty. Ex-Saint Neil Janczyk who may not have the physique of a top level footballer but still has the brain hit the turf just inside the box after Murray Davidson had slid in.
The Perth players were adamant that Janczyk had started his fall before Davidson made contact but, after a few seconds of delay, referee Steve Conroy pointed to the spot.
What followed was a piece of drama all of its own. Molloy, not Brechin’s regular penalty-taker, deceived Enckelman with a cheeky chip down the middle. His joy was short-lived, however, as Conroy correctly penalised Rory McAllister for encroaching.
Molloy then handed the ball to the man responsible for there having to be a retake, and McAllister beat the Perth keeper in a more conventional manner to send his team into the break a goal up.
Molloy commented, “Rory usually takes our penalties but he missed his last one it was against Dumbarton I think so he was off them. It was either me or David McKenna who was going to take it and I got there first. I fancied my chances and passed it up the middle.
“I was delighted that it had gone in but quickly realised it would have to be retaken. I’d just scored but, for whatever reason, I didn’t fancy it the second time. I put my hand up and thought the best thing to do in that situation was to pass it on.
“I would have planned to go the same way again and felt it might have been read so I let Rory have a go. The most important thing was the team.”
Chris Millar’s 49th-minute equaliser his first of the season was a crisply struck left-footer from 18 yards after the Brechin defence had failed to deal with a Craig cross.
Ewan Moyes had an effort headed off the line by Steven Anderson just two minutes later, then Danny Invincibile and Peter MacDonald both went close for Saints.
Anderson and Enckelman got themselves in a mess on the hour mark, leaving the ball to each other. McKenna slid in but his effort crept wide.
On any other Saturday the smart money was on it being game over on 63 minutes when Invincibile was left unmarked six yards out to head home a Danny Grainger corner. But this was not any Saturday and back came Weir’s men, with man of the match McAllister out-muscling Grainger on 78 minutes before steering a shot in off the far post from a tight angle.
McAllister was the most dangerous striker on the pitch, always a willing runner and recipient of a pass into the channels. That both Saints centre-backs were booked for having to resort to illegal means to stop him told its own story.
Continued…
The Angus outfit had deservedly levelled the tie at 2-2 and in the dying moments the midfielder was determined to press on for a dramatic clincher. Boss Jim Weir had other ideas, though as the former St Mirren man revealed.
“Towards the end I was screaming to get up but I think the gaffer was telling me to get back because he’ll be hoping the replay is on Sky!” he said. “Obviously this was probably our best chance, but we’ll see how it goes in Perth.
“St Johnstone are a top team and they’ll fancy their chances at their place but there will be no pressure on us and we’ll enjoy the replay. We train at McDiarmid every Thursday so, when you take into account that we only play at home every other week, we’re actually in Perth more than we are at Brechin.
“Another good performance on the day might be good enough who knows?”
At a time when Scottish football is in dire need of any nugget of good publicity it can get, what a crying shame that the 3472 paying customers were the only people who got the opportunity to watch Saturday’s captivating quarter-final.
Ahead of the match rival managers Weir and Derek McInnes had expressed their incredulity that Sky and, in particular, the BBC, had decided that this was the least interesting of the four last-eight encounters, and as such wasn’t deemed worthy of being broadcast live.
It was sadly all too predictable that the SPL against SPL clashes would be chosen, but what unfolded at Brechin proved what a short-sighted decision that was. This was a throwback cup tie the like of which doesn’t come round too often. It had the lot commitment, controversy and chances galore.
Perhaps the most important ingredient of all was the pitch, a quagmire of a surface that had first been cleared of snow and was subsequently worked over by anybody who could lay their hands on a pitch fork Weir and Perth chairman Geoff Brown among them.
After two referees’ inspections the end result was underfoot conditions that would have made the purist wince, but provided a boggy stage for a blood and thunder contest.
The tone was set in the sixth minute when both sides struck the woodwork. First a Liam Craig shot hit the underside of the bar but didn’t cross the line, and then play raced up the other end and Kevin Byers steered a low side-footed effort on to Peter Enckelman’s left-hand post.
Continued…
Even when there was a lull in goalmouth action, the tempo and intensity of the match never let up as was the case for the next half hour.
It went up a notch on 40 minutes, though, when the home side were awarded a controversial penalty. Ex-Saint Neil Janczyk who may not have the physique of a top level footballer but still has the brain hit the turf just inside the box after Murray Davidson had slid in.
The Perth players were adamant that Janczyk had started his fall before Davidson made contact but, after a few seconds of delay, referee Steve Conroy pointed to the spot.
What followed was a piece of drama all of its own. Molloy, not Brechin’s regular penalty-taker, deceived Enckelman with a cheeky chip down the middle. His joy was short-lived, however, as Conroy correctly penalised Rory McAllister for encroaching.
Molloy then handed the ball to the man responsible for there having to be a retake, and McAllister beat the Perth keeper in a more conventional manner to send his team into the break a goal up.
Molloy commented, “Rory usually takes our penalties but he missed his last one it was against Dumbarton I think so he was off them. It was either me or David McKenna who was going to take it and I got there first. I fancied my chances and passed it up the middle.
“I was delighted that it had gone in but quickly realised it would have to be retaken. I’d just scored but, for whatever reason, I didn’t fancy it the second time. I put my hand up and thought the best thing to do in that situation was to pass it on.
“I would have planned to go the same way again and felt it might have been read so I let Rory have a go. The most important thing was the team.”
Chris Millar’s 49th-minute equaliser his first of the season was a crisply struck left-footer from 18 yards after the Brechin defence had failed to deal with a Craig cross.
Ewan Moyes had an effort headed off the line by Steven Anderson just two minutes later, then Danny Invincibile and Peter MacDonald both went close for Saints.
Anderson and Enckelman got themselves in a mess on the hour mark, leaving the ball to each other. McKenna slid in but his effort crept wide.
On any other Saturday the smart money was on it being game over on 63 minutes when Invincibile was left unmarked six yards out to head home a Danny Grainger corner. But this was not any Saturday and back came Weir’s men, with man of the match McAllister out-muscling Grainger on 78 minutes before steering a shot in off the far post from a tight angle.
McAllister was the most dangerous striker on the pitch, always a willing runner and recipient of a pass into the channels. That both Saints centre-backs were booked for having to resort to illegal means to stop him told its own story.
Continued…
The Angus outfit had deservedly levelled the tie at 2-2 and in the dying moments the midfielder was determined to press on for a dramatic clincher. Boss Jim Weir had other ideas, though as the former St Mirren man revealed.
“Towards the end I was screaming to get up but I think the gaffer was telling me to get back because he’ll be hoping the replay is on Sky!” he said. “Obviously this was probably our best chance, but we’ll see how it goes in Perth.
“St Johnstone are a top team and they’ll fancy their chances at their place but there will be no pressure on us and we’ll enjoy the replay. We train at McDiarmid every Thursday so, when you take into account that we only play at home every other week, we’re actually in Perth more than we are at Brechin.
“Another good performance on the day might be good enough who knows?”
At a time when Scottish football is in dire need of any nugget of good publicity it can get, what a crying shame that the 3472 paying customers were the only people who got the opportunity to watch Saturday’s captivating quarter-final.
Ahead of the match rival managers Weir and Derek McInnes had expressed their incredulity that Sky and, in particular, the BBC, had decided that this was the least interesting of the four last-eight encounters, and as such wasn’t deemed worthy of being broadcast live.
It was sadly all too predictable that the SPL against SPL clashes would be chosen, but what unfolded at Brechin proved what a short-sighted decision that was. This was a throwback cup tie the like of which doesn’t come round too often. It had the lot commitment, controversy and chances galore.
Perhaps the most important ingredient of all was the pitch, a quagmire of a surface that had first been cleared of snow and was subsequently worked over by anybody who could lay their hands on a pitch fork Weir and Perth chairman Geoff Brown among them.
After two referees’ inspections the end result was underfoot conditions that would have made the purist wince, but provided a boggy stage for a blood and thunder contest.
The tone was set in the sixth minute when both sides struck the woodwork. First a Liam Craig shot hit the underside of the bar but didn’t cross the line, and then play raced up the other end and Kevin Byers steered a low side-footed effort on to Peter Enckelman’s left-hand post.
Continued…
Even when there was a lull in goalmouth action, the tempo and intensity of the match never let up as was the case for the next half hour.
It went up a notch on 40 minutes, though, when the home side were awarded a controversial penalty. Ex-Saint Neil Janczyk who may not have the physique of a top level footballer but still has the brain hit the turf just inside the box after Murray Davidson had slid in.
The Perth players were adamant that Janczyk had started his fall before Davidson made contact but, after a few seconds of delay, referee Steve Conroy pointed to the spot.
What followed was a piece of drama all of its own. Molloy, not Brechin’s regular penalty-taker, deceived Enckelman with a cheeky chip down the middle. His joy was short-lived, however, as Conroy correctly penalised Rory McAllister for encroaching.
Molloy then handed the ball to the man responsible for there having to be a retake, and McAllister beat the Perth keeper in a more conventional manner to send his team into the break a goal up.
Molloy commented, “Rory usually takes our penalties but he missed his last one it was against Dumbarton I think so he was off them. It was either me or David McKenna who was going to take it and I got there first. I fancied my chances and passed it up the middle.
“I was delighted that it had gone in but quickly realised it would have to be retaken. I’d just scored but, for whatever reason, I didn’t fancy it the second time. I put my hand up and thought the best thing to do in that situation was to pass it on.
“I would have planned to go the same way again and felt it might have been read so I let Rory have a go. The most important thing was the team.”
Chris Millar’s 49th-minute equaliser his first of the season was a crisply struck left-footer from 18 yards after the Brechin defence had failed to deal with a Craig cross.
Ewan Moyes had an effort headed off the line by Steven Anderson just two minutes later, then Danny Invincibile and Peter MacDonald both went close for Saints.
Anderson and Enckelman got themselves in a mess on the hour mark, leaving the ball to each other. McKenna slid in but his effort crept wide.
On any other Saturday the smart money was on it being game over on 63 minutes when Invincibile was left unmarked six yards out to head home a Danny Grainger corner. But this was not any Saturday and back came Weir’s men, with man of the match McAllister out-muscling Grainger on 78 minutes before steering a shot in off the far post from a tight angle.
McAllister was the most dangerous striker on the pitch, always a willing runner and recipient of a pass into the channels. That both Saints centre-backs were booked for having to resort to illegal means to stop him told its own story.
Continued…
The Angus outfit had deservedly levelled the tie at 2-2 and in the dying moments the midfielder was determined to press on for a dramatic clincher. Boss Jim Weir had other ideas, though as the former St Mirren man revealed.
“Towards the end I was screaming to get up but I think the gaffer was telling me to get back because he’ll be hoping the replay is on Sky!” he said. “Obviously this was probably our best chance, but we’ll see how it goes in Perth.
“St Johnstone are a top team and they’ll fancy their chances at their place but there will be no pressure on us and we’ll enjoy the replay. We train at McDiarmid every Thursday so, when you take into account that we only play at home every other week, we’re actually in Perth more than we are at Brechin.
“Another good performance on the day might be good enough who knows?”
At a time when Scottish football is in dire need of any nugget of good publicity it can get, what a crying shame that the 3472 paying customers were the only people who got the opportunity to watch Saturday’s captivating quarter-final.
Ahead of the match rival managers Weir and Derek McInnes had expressed their incredulity that Sky and, in particular, the BBC, had decided that this was the least interesting of the four last-eight encounters, and as such wasn’t deemed worthy of being broadcast live.
It was sadly all too predictable that the SPL against SPL clashes would be chosen, but what unfolded at Brechin proved what a short-sighted decision that was. This was a throwback cup tie the like of which doesn’t come round too often. It had the lot commitment, controversy and chances galore.
Perhaps the most important ingredient of all was the pitch, a quagmire of a surface that had first been cleared of snow and was subsequently worked over by anybody who could lay their hands on a pitch fork Weir and Perth chairman Geoff Brown among them.
After two referees’ inspections the end result was underfoot conditions that would have made the purist wince, but provided a boggy stage for a blood and thunder contest.
The tone was set in the sixth minute when both sides struck the woodwork. First a Liam Craig shot hit the underside of the bar but didn’t cross the line, and then play raced up the other end and Kevin Byers steered a low side-footed effort on to Peter Enckelman’s left-hand post.
Continued…
Even when there was a lull in goalmouth action, the tempo and intensity of the match never let up as was the case for the next half hour.
It went up a notch on 40 minutes, though, when the home side were awarded a controversial penalty. Ex-Saint Neil Janczyk who may not have the physique of a top level footballer but still has the brain hit the turf just inside the box after Murray Davidson had slid in.
The Perth players were adamant that Janczyk had started his fall before Davidson made contact but, after a few seconds of delay, referee Steve Conroy pointed to the spot.
What followed was a piece of drama all of its own. Molloy, not Brechin’s regular penalty-taker, deceived Enckelman with a cheeky chip down the middle. His joy was short-lived, however, as Conroy correctly penalised Rory McAllister for encroaching.
Molloy then handed the ball to the man responsible for there having to be a retake, and McAllister beat the Perth keeper in a more conventional manner to send his team into the break a goal up.
Molloy commented, “Rory usually takes our penalties but he missed his last one it was against Dumbarton I think so he was off them. It was either me or David McKenna who was going to take it and I got there first. I fancied my chances and passed it up the middle.
“I was delighted that it had gone in but quickly realised it would have to be retaken. I’d just scored but, for whatever reason, I didn’t fancy it the second time. I put my hand up and thought the best thing to do in that situation was to pass it on.
“I would have planned to go the same way again and felt it might have been read so I let Rory have a go. The most important thing was the team.”
Chris Millar’s 49th-minute equaliser his first of the season was a crisply struck left-footer from 18 yards after the Brechin defence had failed to deal with a Craig cross.
Ewan Moyes had an effort headed off the line by Steven Anderson just two minutes later, then Danny Invincibile and Peter MacDonald both went close for Saints.
Anderson and Enckelman got themselves in a mess on the hour mark, leaving the ball to each other. McKenna slid in but his effort crept wide.
On any other Saturday the smart money was on it being game over on 63 minutes when Invincibile was left unmarked six yards out to head home a Danny Grainger corner. But this was not any Saturday and back came Weir’s men, with man of the match McAllister out-muscling Grainger on 78 minutes before steering a shot in off the far post from a tight angle.
McAllister was the most dangerous striker on the pitch, always a willing runner and recipient of a pass into the channels. That both Saints centre-backs were booked for having to resort to illegal means to stop him told its own story.
Continued…