Youths: Musselburgh Windsor 17s into Scottish Cup last eight

Musselburgh Windsor 17s hit the goal trail against Valspar FC in the Scottish Cup at Pinkie

The dynamics of the game changed with only four minutes on the clock. Windsor’s Sean Brown was through on goal with just goalie Shane McWee to beat and the Valspar keeper hauled his opponent down in the box. Immediately, referee Robert White pointed to the spot and dismissed the stopper. Substitute midfielder Ryan McCrone – a midfielder – volunteered to go in goal for his side, but there was little he could do to prevent Windsor’s Ross Greig from blasting in the penalty.

The Ayrshire side were left reeling and soon after Windsor capitalised on their man advantage with a second goal. Ross Hope beat the Valspar offside trap before slotting the ball home.

Two then very quickly became three for Windsor as Brown intercepted the ball in the final third before placing an effort into the back of the net from ten yards.

With the half almost over and Windsor running riot, Valspar then suddenly found a goal. A free-kick awarded 25 yards from goal was expertly dispatched by Frazer Dempsey to give his side a lifeline from out of nowhere. The ten men then ended the half looking very lively, but Windsor did just enough to see out the final few minutes with a two goal cushion intact.

Windsor retained composure after the interval and they quickly got back into their stride with a fourth goal to kill the tie off. A ball in from the right was knocked down at the back post by Lewis Kynoch and Brown bagged another as he tucked the ball in from five yards.

Valspar’s resolve was broken and Windsor could smell blood. They continued to press and soon after grabbed a fifth with more clinical finishing in the box. Kynoch was instrumental as he drifted in from the right before teeing up Brown for his hat-trick.

Windsor continued to rain effort upon effort down on the Valspar goal. After seeing a few shots turned away by McCrone, the hosts eventually added another to their tally. This time it was Hope who did the legwork as he ventured down the right before putting the ball into the path of Jamie Weir to smash through Valspar bodies in the area.

After the game, Windsor coach Euan Greig said: “I’m very pleased with how things panned out for us. With their goalie getting a red card early doors, we had the momentum from the start. I’m delighted to secure a place in the quarter-finals. We know there’s no easy games at this stage and we’ll continue to take things game by game starting with our away tie to Airdrie on February 7. That’s what the Scottish Cup is all about.”

Musselburgh Windsor 17s: Grant Goodfellow, Ross McGuire, Kieran Savage, Liam Mitchell, Jack Combe, Daniel Mackinnon, Jamie Weir, Ross Greig, Ross McLaren, Sean Brown, Ross Hope, Lewis Kynoch, Liam Gregory, Callum Downie, Murray McDougal, Brok Robertson.

Valspar FC 17s: Shane McWee, Fraser McMillan, Graham Anderson, Lewis Hannah, Calum Walker, Josh Wood, Cameron McKenzie, Frazer Dempsey, Thomas Dunlop, Miguel McIntosh, Euan Anderson, Ryan McCrone, Struan Tremble, Ryan Speirs, Darrell Cotton.