Edgar is Blues hometown hero

STRANRAER’S very own Ryan Edgar fired home an extra time winner against Lowland League high-flyers Clydebank to seal the Blues a spot in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup.

The Stair Park side beat the Bankies 2-1 on home turf following 120 minutes of play, in which little separated the two teams.

Stranraer went ahead when Clydebank defender David Syme put James Dolan’s cross into his own net.

But the visitors, backed by a healthy travelling support, equalised through Arran Preston three minutes after the interval.

It was not until the 91st minute, at the start of the first period of extra time, until 21-year-old Edgar, a product of the Blues youth system, fired home a deflected low drive which proved to be the difference between the two sides.

Edgar said: “Personally, I think it was a really poor performance from us. I don’t think we were really up to it at all today, from start to finish.

“It was one of those games where we’ve really had to grind to get the result. Thankfully we have at the end and now we’re into the fourth round.

“We know that Clydebank are a good side and they are probably going to be challenging for a League Two play-off position come the end of the season.”

On the instructions given before he came on, Edgar added: “(I was told) to go and lift the game and the tempo and try to create chances. And if we get chances then take them.

“I think in the second half we weren’t really there. But going into extra time came that gave us a boost to go and get the result.

“I’ve just hit my shot low and hard, and thankfully it’s hit the back of the net.

“You can tell from my celebration how much it means to me. It means so much to me, scoring for my home town club.”

Giving his thoughts on the cup victory, Blues boss Chris Aitken said: “(I’m) delighted we’re in the next round. Our performance was disappointing. But it wasn’t about that today, it was about getting in the hat for the next round, and we’re in it.

“If we don’t get one of the big guns (in the next round), then I’ll take another game down here (at Stair Park).”

Stranraer’s reward was yet another home tie. They will entertain Championship side Queen’s Park on the weekend of January 17.

Until then, however, attention turns swiftly back to League Two and KDM Trophy business, with a home game against Stirling on Saturday before a visit to East Kilbride in the cup on Tuesday night.