East Kilbirde boss: Bonnyrigg Rose will come for us in second leg, job is far from done
East Kilbride boss Mick Kennedy warned their job is far from done after taking a huge step towards the SPFL next season with a 3-1 win over Bonnyrigg Rose in the first leg of the League Two play-offs.
And he insisted the fact promotion from the Lowland League has eluded the club for over a decade should serve as a warning for next week's second leg in Midlothian.
Striker Cami Elliott was at the double for the hosts, netting after just two minutes and early in the second half, either side of an equaliser from ex-Kilby man Aaron Arnott.
But Jordan McGregor struck in the 72nd minute to give EK a two-goal advantage for the decider at New Dundas Park.
It puts Kilby on the cusp of promotion after three painful close calls down the years and despite dominating their visitors in the second half, Kennedy knows Rose could still be a thorn in their side.
He said: "I'm delighted with the second half performance. I thought we started the game really well, going 1-0 up so quickly. We had a 10-15 minute spell where we were controlling the game, shifting them across the pitch.
"But after Bonnyrigg scored, we were all over the place. The whole structure goes, people start dropping into areas of the pitch we don't ask them to and that's where their goal comes from.
"But once we got in at half-time and fixed that. We were a lot more dominant in the second half.
"I thought Bonnyrigg's shape was really good out of possession, they obviously came to frustrate us, but once we fixed our structure at half-time and how to break that first press, I thought we were thoroughly deserving of our victory.
"But this game is nowhere near done. This club has tried to get out of this league for 10 years and not succeeded so there certainly won't be any complacency from myself.
"We temper expectations by reminding them we've not gone up in the space of 10 years. The club hasn't managed to cross that line.
"But I think we need to be respectful to Bonnyrigg as well. They have been in the Lowland League and did well to get to League Two, so I think it will be a different game.
"I think they will be a lot more aggressive and a lot more forward thinking. They will probably create more opportunities as well so it is about how we deal with that. We need to find a game plan with some kind of attacking intent."
The hosts stated their intent very early on and inside 45 seconds John Robertson cut inside before he saw a thumping effort deflected inches over the top.
And from the resulting corner, Kilby took an early lead. Reegan Mimnaugh swung in a ball towards the back post and Elliott's looping header dropped into the far corner to get the hosts off to a dream start.
In 16 the visitors pulled level in controversial circumstances. EK were screaming for a foul on Jordan McGregor out wide inside their own half, but referee Dan McFarlane waved play on and Rose capitalised. Kieran Somerville drove into the box and his cut back found Arnott for a composed finish into the bottom corner.
Reegan Mimnaugh came to Kilby's rescue in 52 minutes when he headed Angus Mailer's header off the line and that proved a pivotal moment, as Kiby raced up the pitch and scored from the next attack. Great work from Nathan Flanagan saw him burst down the wing and he delivered a tantalising ball across the face of goal for Elliott to slide in and knock home from all of two yards.
In 72 minutes EK added to their tally after some fine build-up. Mimnaugh dinked the ball to the back post and Jamie Hamilton of all people produced a stunning scissor kick, which crashed off the crossbar and fell to McGregor to poke the ball home.
In the 90th minute Elliott almost grabbed his hat-trick but Flangan's driven cross just escaped him in the six-yard box.
Kennedy added: "I certainly think we could have had another goal. Flanagan fires one across the front and Cami doesn't get on it.
"But if you said we'd go into the second leg with a two-goal lead, I'd have bitten your hand off.
"Last year, we dominated Stranraer here and missed numerous opportunities to end up going down there at 2-2, so we've got to take the positives from the scoreline."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Glasgow Times
2 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Exeter boss Gary Caldwell fumes at handball decision in Doncaster defeat
Substitute Kevin McDonald was penalised for handball by referee Ross Joyce and Luke Molyneux fired home the resulting spot-kick in the 88th minute. Caldwell felt the decision went against guidance on the handball rule he had been given in a briefing earlier in the week. He said: 'I was on a Zoom call for two hours and told clearly that a handball decision would need to be deliberate or somebody's arm would need to be in an unnatural position and it's just hit his hand. 'It's difficult for referees and I feel sorry for them because I think they have a thankless task, but when we're told one thing and then something else happens on the first day it's very difficult to accept and I think when he watches it back he'll know that he got it wrong. 'Otherwise, in the second half, I couldn't see us winning the game, but I couldn't see us losing the game either. I thought defensively our set-up was excellent. 'We gave them very little space to play in and they created very few chances. 'I just wanted us to be a bit better in possession. I also thought we created the best chance of the game early on and you have to capitalise on those moments and then create more of them.' Grant McCann praised the patience of his Doncaster side. Last season's League Two champions dominated the attacking play but found an organised Exeter a tough nut to crack. 'I thought it was a really good, controlled performance from us,' McCann said. 'We had to be patient. 'We moved the ball well and had some really good chances without showing that killer instinct. But it was a difficult game. 'Exeter surprised us a bit with their shape. We've seen them play in different ways in pre-season and they did that later in the game when they brought players on. 'They were difficult to break down and credit to Gary Caldwell with their shape, with the five, the three and the two. 'We had to be patient and I reminded the lads of that at half-time and said the opportunities would come. We got our break when we just needed it and it was calm from Mols to put the penalty away. 'All in all, I felt we deserved the three points.'
North Wales Chronicle
2 hours ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Fleetwood's defending impresses boss Pete Wild in opening day away success
Barnet dominated possession but Will Davies put Fleetwood ahead in the 22nd minute, pouncing on a mistake from keeper Owen Evans to slot into an empty net. Club captain Elliot Bonds sealed the win five minutes after the break, firing home a rebound. Wild said: 'It was a proper League Two away performance. We had to be good in both boxes – that's what this league is all about. We've been in it for four years and know what it takes to win away. 'Sometimes we won't have the ball, so we need to stay solid and take our chances when they come.' Wild praised his team's pressing and Davies' composure, adding. 'Their keeper made a few mistakes and didn't get away with them – we were on the front foot and worked on that press.' On the second goal, he said: 'The first 15 minutes after half-time is always tough. Getting that goal when we did was very pleasing. I've been saying all week to our players that everybody has to chip in with goals. 'Last season, if games ended in the 88th minute, we'd have 17 more points. The subs used their experience well to see the game out and that ruthless edge was probably missing across pre-season when we've not scored enough goals for the chances we created.' Barnet manager Dean Brennan had no overriding emotions leading his side into their first EFL game in seven years but was left disappointed by the manner of the defeat. 'It's just another game. I'm not caught up in the emotions or what we achieved in the past – that's history,' said Brennan. 'We lost a game I wanted us to win. We didn't hit the standards we've set, especially over the last couple of years. Our unbeaten home record is gone. 'There were some OK phases but we weren't good enough around the box. Some players went off-script and looked nervous, despite handling big games in the past.' On Danny Collinge's ruled-out goal, he added: 'Offside or not, I haven't seen it back, a breakthrough would've been nice. 'I said yesterday the first goal would be huge, given how Fleetwood would set up. They managed the game better than us in both boxes. 'The first goal came from poor goalkeeping. We were in control, had plenty of box entries, but then gave the ball away – it was kamikaze. 'The message to the players is clear: we can't perform like that. If we keep replicating those performances, we'll lose a lot of games in this league.'
The Guardian
5 hours ago
- The Guardian
Ian Holloway slams ‘horrific' behaviour after Swindon fan throws object at keeper
Swindon Town have launched an investigation into what manager Ian Holloway called 'absolutely horrific' behaviour by one of their fans in the moments after Walsall scored a late winner against them in their 2-1 League Two defeat on Saturday. A supporter from the away end at Bescot Stadium was seen throwing an object at Walsall goalkeeper Myles Roberts, while Swindon said they were also aware of 'a number of serious incidents' including 'the use of pyrotechnics, objects being thrown, abuse directed at stewards, staff, players and match officials, as well as damage caused to property within the stadium'. Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion The club said it would work with Walsall to investigate the incidents, adding: 'This behaviour has absolutely no place at our football club or in the wider game. Let us be clear: any individuals found to have engaged in such actions will face the strictest possible sanctions, including banning orders and legal action where appropriate.' Addressing the fan directly on Swindon's YouTube channel, Holloway said: 'I'm disgusted by whoever that person was. Whoever you are, you're not a Swindon fan. I'm not having you, and I hope you get caught. That is absolutely horrific. How dare you put our club in the situation you've just done … we don't want you in football. 'If you've ripped a seat out and thrown it at somebody, I just can't stand you, whoever you are. And I will find you. I want us to find that person, and shame them.' Earlier he told BBC Radio Wiltshire: 'That's not right; that's not football. You think you're upset and all of this? Just shut your face and get out of the game. It's absolutely disgusting.'
