Deveronvale 0 Broxburn Athletic 1: Vale boss Craig Stewart 'gutted' by Scottish Cup exit
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DEVERONVALE manager Craig Stewart was “gutted” after his side were knocked out of the Scottish Cup by Broxburn Athletic at Princess Royal Park.
The East of Scotland League leaders took a 1-0 lead early on and held on to win, with Stewart disappointed by his side’s final product in the tight defeat.
He said he would fancy his side to win eight times out of 10 against the same opponent.
“We definitely deserved to take it to at least extra-time,” he said. “We were a bit sloppy for the goal we conceded but outwith that we played decent and we were the better team overall.
“The final third let us down with the decision making. Sean McIntosh, in our goal, had very little to do, being honest, so that makes it a bit disappointing.
“I am gutted as it’s a special competition and the players are getting a feel for that now, but it’s a learning curve for them.
“The guys are ultimately really disappointed with the result because we know we were the better team. The boys can take heart from that but we need to put the ball in the back of the net and take advantage.
“I went down and watched Broxburn and thought they were an OK side, but they weren’t a team that I was worried about coming up here. I thought if we were on top that we would win the game, but that little bit let us down.
“Nobody can fault the work rate and effort the boys put in, but after seeing Broxburn again on Saturday I would fancy us to beat them eight times out of 10.”
Stewart will spend this week picking his players up for the arrival of Brechin City to Princess Royal Park on Saturday, with the Glebe Park side aiming to win the Highland League for a second successive season.
“We have a bit of restorative work to do in terms of getting the boys up again,” Stewart admitted.
“We will have a chat through the week and get the boys up for it again.
“The cup goes to one side, we are out of that and we can’t change that, so it’s onto see if we can get something from Brechin.
“They are one of the best teams in the Highland League and are also coming off the back of a defeat in the Scottish Cup.”
Five teenagers started for Deveronvale in Saturday’s match, with another three on the bench, and Stewart said they are progressing and improving well.
“We are still young,” Stewart added. “Three of the back four were teeangers but they handled it well.
“There are things we need to improve, but we are improving all the time. We recognise that in our camp.”
