THIS win might have come on artificial turf but Dundee United proved there is nothing fake about their ambition to bring the Scottish Cup back to Tannadice in the club's centenary year.
Craig Levein's side made short work of their Third Division opponents, although, as so often is the case in these affairs, East Stirlingshire will rue missed opportunities. The most striking of these was passed up in the fourth minute by veteran str
iker Colin Cramb. Left with just the keeper to beat, he lifted the ball over the bar.
Afterwards he protested that he thought he had heard a whistle sound, hence his less than decisive attempt to finish. But he knew, and the East Stirlingshire fans knew, that this was a pivotal moment in their attempt to post a shock at their temporary home at Ochilview.
United pushed on and scored three goals before half-time, doing little to alter the impression that they are good outside bets to lift the trophy for a second time in the club's history.
The always entertaining Shire Tannoy man re-branded Stenhousemuir's ground as "Lesser Firs Park", with reference to the Falkirk club's old, fondly- remembered home.
In those tight surroundings they might have had more chance to cause an upset but United took to the synthetic turf at Ochilview almost immediately, having trained here as recently as Friday.
Further aiding their cause was the relative calming of weather conditions by kick-off, although sweeping rain had returned by the game's conclusion. The United fans, packed into the terracing behind one goal, enjoyed the occasion, some perhaps reflecting on the last time the sides met on Scottish Cup duty, in 1959.
Back then few could have predicted the outcome of the tie, since United were only above Shire on goal difference in the Second Division. United did indeed prevail in the end, but only after a third game, played at the neutral venue of Tynecastle Park. Indeed, yesterday's win was only United's fourth victory in 19 away games against Shire since 1925.
Those goals in the first-half settled the tie and meant United could anticipate a fifth-round trip to Hamilton Accies long before the end.
Prince Buaben got things under way with a goal from just outside the box after 15 minutes and skipper Darren Dods doubled the tally with a header from a Paul Dixon corner five minutes before the interval.
Three minutes later Jon Daly rose in the penalty box to power home a Johnny Russell cross.
Those in search of the first true Scottish Cup shock of the weekend could at this point shuffle off into the night, with United offering a thoroughly professional response to the alarm of having allowed Shire such a golden opportunity to open the scoring.
Russell was a particular stand-out for the away side on his starting debut. He reaped the benefit of having already played – and scored – at Ochilview earlier in the season, when on loan at Forfar Athletic.
He finally got on the score sheet yesterday at the start of the second-half, when he picked himself up after being brought down by Eddie Forrest and coolly converted the penalty. A goal on his full debut was a fitting reward for a performance that was full of energy.
United could not add to their tally in the 35 minutes which remained, although substitute David Robertson did strike a shot against a post.
No team managed by Jim McInally is likely ever to give up, and Shire battled on in the second-half. Shining for them was teenage goalkeeper Jamie Newman, brought into the side for his debut. He overcame the inevitable nerves and performed with aplomb, keeping the United goal tally at four with a fine save with his legs at the end from Daly.
In the absence of ball-boys, Newman's opposite number, the Celtic-bound Lukasz Zaluska, expended more energy retrieving the ball from behind his own goal than actually making saves. For him and all his team-mates this was a lesson in humility, one they passed.
McInally, the former United midfielder, heard his name sung in praise by the fans who had once watched him at Tannadice. He is as popular at East Stirlingshire, helping oversee a transformation in fortunes which means the side are now free to focus on promotion from the Third Division. These are certainly better days for the Shire.
The full article contains 758 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
