CONNOR WILLAGHAN got the winner for Sauchie Juniors, allowing progression through to the next round of the South Challenge Cup with a victory over Kello Rovers.

There were only two changes to the starting eleven from the side’s victory over Dunipace in the week, Marc Sludden replaced the absent Mark Smith and Keir Burt headed in between the sticks as the team’s goalkeeper in cup competition.

Facing up against opposition further down in the footballing pyramid and away from home, Fraser Duncan’s men certainly couldn’t afford to get complacent.

He said: “What we said to the guys before the cup tie was we just want to get our names in the hat, aim for the next round.”

Chances certainly were there for Sauchie to take the lead, but neither Ross Hutchison, Aaron Isaacs, nor Ross Kavanagh had enough behind their attempts.

The stalemate ended towards the end of the half when Sludden got a cross in at the near post, only for an opposition defender to turn the ball into his own net.

The Sauchie boss spoke to Advertiser Sport about a largely disappointing first 45 minutes for his side: “There wasn’t many positives there, only one would be that we were in the lead.”

Jack Fisher had an attempt collected by the hosts’ keeper Ryan Dunsmuir, it had been an impressive run and through ball from Kavanagh, allowing the midfielder to run onto.

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A foul on Kello striker Josh Kerr inside the box gave Greg Miller a chance from the spot, Miller made no mistake and struck the ball down the middle, passing Burt with power.

With time ticking on and neither team finding the all-important second goal, it seemed like this game would be heading for extra time.

This changed with six minutes to go when substitute Mikey Cunningham whipped a low cross into a crowded box, only for defender Connor Willaghan to tap home what proved to be the vital winner.

There was relief from Fraser Duncan at the full-time whistle: “We managed to get ourselves through, it was a tough one, conditions were very difficult, the pitch wasn’t great at all, it was tough for both teams to get the ball down.

“I’m glad we managed to roll our sleeves up, and the most important thing, as we said to the players, was to get through and without any injuries.

“Performance wise though, it wasn’t very good, we need to take more chances as we’ve missed a few that are clear cut.”

Sauchie Juniors: Burt, Willaghan, Hutchison (Harrison 90’), Thomson, Caves, Kavanagh, McDowell (Severin 46’), Sludden (Cunningham 55’), Williamson, Isaacs (Swain 84’), Fisher (Bateman 84’)

Substitutes Not Used: Robertson, Davidson

Sauchie Juniors have yet to find out their opponents in the next round but do welcome Whitburn to Beechwood Park this Saturday in a league fixture.