It was 8 goals scored for the second game in a row for The Buffs who now find themselves in the draw for round 2 of the South Region Challenge Cup after comfortably knocking out South of Scotland side, Wigtown and Bladnoch FC 0-8.
It was a heavily rotated Buffs side from the one that destroyed Drumchapel earlier in the week but, Kevin Kelly’s chosen eleven still managed to get off to a good start at Trammondford Park, which saw a few decent Buffs chances squandered early on.
Olly Smith had the first chance of the game with a header from a good position. Dylan Duncan chased down a ball in behind and got to the byline before laying the ball back to Logan Burgess on the right wing. Logan swung a cross in towards the back post which was won by Smith whose header dipped just over the bar and onto the roof of the net.
Burgess had a key part to play going forward again soon after when Ben Lewis played a great through ball between the Wigtown left back and centre half. Lewis’ ball split the defence open and allowed Burgess to drive into the box from the right-hand side before chopping the ball inside, past his man. Logan had an effort with his left foot from well inside the box, but his shot was well saved by the trailing leg of Plunkett, in the Wigtown goal.
The Buffs would open the scoring in the 15th minute through forward Dylan Duncan. Lewis had time on the ball in the holding midfield position and picked out a good pass into Lamont who had made a good run into the space between the Wigtown defence and midfield. Lamont controlled the ball before sliding the ball in behind for Duncan who just beat the goalkeeper to the ball, took it past Plunkett and finished into the empty net with ease.
Wigtown would have a chance to equalise in the game, with a quick break forward. Wigtown moved the ball forward down the left, with pace which resulted in Henderson beating Lamont to a loose pass in midfield. Henderson was fouled by Lamont but, the midfielder was able to release a pass out to the right wing before he was brought down by Mark. Kirk picked up the ball on the right and drove inside to the edge of the box where he pulled an effort wide of the far post.
Buffs’ lead was doubled on the stroke of half-time, with Olly Smith grabbing his first of the game. The Buffs moved the ball forward patiently before a pass was sprayed out wide to Smith. Olly cut inside from the left, beating his man, and struck the ball low and into the near bottom left corner, possibly wrong-footing the goalkeeper.
It would’ve been more than 2 for The Buffs heading into the break if it wasn’t for some poor finishing in front of goal, something The Buffs would make up for in the second 45.
It would be ten minutes into the half before The Buffs would extend their lead to 3 after a dangerous counterattack. The Buffs broke up the left flank and squared the ball into Mark Lamont just inside the Wigtown half. Lamont passed the ball forward into the feet of Duncan who held the ball up before playing a nicely weighted through ball into the path of Olly Smith who took a touch and passed the ball into the bottom right corner with a tidy finish.
Dylan Duncan added another for The Buffs two minutes later with a powerful finish. The forward picked the ball up on the left side of the edge of the box and hit a shot towards the near post of the Wigtown net which Plunkett would get a hand to but could only push the ball into the side netting.
Kevin Kelly freshened his side up with a few changes around the 60th minute which clearly re-energised his side who had begun to tire in the heat. The Buffs got back to scoring after a quiet 10 minutes, with Olly Smith completing his first-ever Buffs hat trick. The diminutive forward was played in on goal by Blair MacIntyre, with Smith driving forward before striking across goal and into the left side netting.
Substitute, David Nish had an opportunity to get a consolation goal for the hosts which he put just wide. The ball was crossed in low from the right and found the feet of Nish who controlled the ball with his back to goal. The striker turned and sent a shot flying past the left post from close range
It was another 2 goals in quick succession for The Buffs around the 75th minute with the first being scored by Kilmarnock FC loanee, Logan Burgess. Murray MacKintosh switched the ball out to Logan who dribbled into the box and attempted to find the far corner with a shot. Plunkett got down well to his right to save, but the goalkeeper could only push the ball back into the middle of the box where McLean was waiting. McLean had the goal at his mercy but was defended exceptionally by a sliding Wigtown defender who managed to nick the ball off of Campbell’s feet. Burgess had continued his run into the box and managed to get to the loose ball as he slid in to send the ball into the back of the net for his debut goal for the club.
Josh Winton would be next to cause trouble in the Wigtown box as he whipped a dangerous corner in from the left side. The Buffs were unable to get on the end of the cross, however, Winton’s ball was deflected goalwards and into the net rather unfortunately for the Wigtown defence.
The Buffs’ goal scoring would come to an end in the 90th minute through a brilliant diving header from Blair MacIntyre. Campbell drilled. Nice ball out to Dylan Duncan who had moved out the the right-hand side the receive the pass. Dylan crossed into the centre of the box where Blair MacIntyre dove across and glanced a header into the left side of the net wonderfully.
Another comfortable victory on the road for Kevin Kelly’s side who now must convert their away form into home form as they welcome Shotts Bon Accord to Buffs Park on Saturday with hopes of building on the momentum gained from a terrific week for The Buffs.
