DANNY SMITH’S wonder goal propelled Sauchie into the semi finals of the East of Scotland League Cup.
Fraser Duncan’s side travelled to Fife to take on fellow Premier Division side Hill of Beath Hawthorns, with a place in the final four up for grabs.
The boss had outlined injury updates for Mikey Cunningham and Scott Davidson, who both started on the bench for Sauchie.
The visitors enjoyed a strong start as Brian Morgan and Jack Docherty fired the Reds into a two goal lead inside 10 minutes.
Hill of Beath began to settle and had calls for a penalty for handball dismissed by the referee.
They pulled a goal back just seconds later through Ross Allum, with Sauchie then having to weather the storm of Haws pressure to round off the first half.
The second half played out rather tentatively until Danny Smith’s volleyed effort soared into the top corner, putting Duncan's men out of sight and into the semi final.
Speaking to Advertiser Sport after the match, the boss said: “I’m chuffed to bits.
“We came here, we had a game plan, we worked on a few bits and pieces and knew we had to be more direct.
“We’ve done brilliantly to push on and get ourselves into the semi final. The game exploded in our favour at the start, we scored two good goals.
“They pinned us back and I felt Hill of Beath were the better side for about 15, 20 minutes in that first half but we reorganised and got back into our groove.
“In the second half though, the way we defended we didn’t really seem in danger or under any threat.
“I’m chuffed to bits and delighted with how much effort we put in, the way we went about it and to be in the next round.”
With the East of Scotland Premier League now wrapped up, Sauchie will turn their full attention to the cup.
This is their last opportunity to claim some silverware for this season, with Duncan adding it would be an added bonus if they could do it for Brian Morgan.
Morgan has been a long term servant to the club but will be bowing out at the end of this season, deciding to place his full focus on his job and his family.
“This group of players is far too good not to win something,” Duncan continued. “We need to go and make sure we do win it.
“It would be a great shame if we made it to the semi-final and didn’t win it so that’s our big goal.
“If it wasn’t for injuries this year, who knows what might have been? We’re now getting the full squad together and it’s too big an opportunity for us not to go and do it.
“It would be a special thing for Brian. He’s committed his life to this club as a few of us have and it would be great for him to pick up a trophy at the end of the season.
“That would end it on a high for him and that’s what we’re all pushing for.”
Meanwhile, Haddington also progressed to the semi-finals of the League Cup after a 4-0 demolition job of Crossgates.
Sauchie now await the results of the other quarter final fixtures, with the winner of Arniston Rangers and Glenrothes facing the Reds in the semi-final.
Haddington will be up against the winner of the Whitburn v Preston Athletic clash, with those two ties being held on Tuesday evening.
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