WHITLETTS Victoria manager Kevin Kelly praised the “application and desire” of his players as they produced a resilient performance to beat Bonnyrigg Rose on penalties in the South Challenge Cup.
Away defeats in the last two weeks at Camelon in the Scottish Cup and Bellshill in the WOSFL First Division weren’t ideal preparation for Vics going into the match against a side that were playing in Scottish League Two only a couple of seasons ago.
It was the home side who had the better of the opening exchanges, and on seven minutes, a slack clearance from Bonnyrigg keeper Mallon landed at the feet of Moffat 20 yards out, but his attempted chip sailed over the bar.
A great piece of skill by Nathan Lennox just before the 15-minute mark nearly had Whitletts in front, his chest and volley from 25 yards whistling just past the top corner on the goalie’s right.
A few minutes before half time Whitletts midfielder Paul ‘Taz’ Mckenzie was fouled as he tried to control a long ball on the edge of the Bonnyrigg box.
Sam Ellis beat the wall with his left-footed free kick, but Mallon got down to his right to save.
Unfortunately for him the rebound went to the feet of Kyro Crawford, who turned it home to send the hosts in at the break 1-0 up.
Bonnyrigg came out with some impetus in the second half as they looked to get straight back into the game.
Their number nine Devine raced onto a ball through the middle and dribbled round Currie but could only finish into the side netting.
As they had for most of the game, Whitletts sat in, soaked up the pressure and hit on the break.
Ten minutes into the half, a good run down the right from Jordan Boyd was finished off with a nice delivery into the box.
The cross found Kyro Crawford in acres of space, but he never got enough on his header to score.
The missed chance proved costly as Bonnyrigg got themselves back on level terms on 64 minutes.
A Vics clearance only found its way to the edge of the box where Josh Laing was waiting to sweep home a left-footed shot past the right hand of Currie and make it 1-1.
The Whitletts defence stood firm, superbly marshalled by their new centre back pairing of Fisher and McMillan, seeing the game out and taking it to a penalty kick decider.
Boyd, Moffat, Crawford, Lennox and Ellis took responsibility for the home team, and all dispatched their kicks.
Evan Currie saved the second Bonnyrigg penalty, guessing right and getting down to his left to keep the ball out.
Ellis’ kick meant there was no need for the away team to complete their five and the Vics ran out 5-3 winners.
After the game, gaffer Kelly said: “I thought their application and desire was excellent.
“Today they showed if they can get that bit between their teeth and they stick together when the chips are down, they can produce really good things.
“They’re rightfully celebrating the way they are; they deserve every bit of it.”
Kelly says the result was even more pleasing due to the number of injuries that Whitletts have been forced to deal with in recent weeks.
He added: "I thought the application and desire to get us to penalties was excellent.
"I told the players that sometimes people don't get opportunities, and when they come along you have to take them.
"We are walking wounded. We had 11 players missing today, effectively a starting 11 you could put on the pitch.
"It's provided an opportunity for others and today they showed they can produce really good things and quite rightly celebrating."
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