Dougie MacDuff admitted aid was his overriding emotion as Irvine Vics sneaked a Scottish Junior Cup shootout win in opposition to Fraserburgh United.
The Westenders wanted a last-gasp Kevin Adam penalty to grab a 2-2 draw and ship Saturday’s first spherical tie at Vics Park to identify kicks.
An ideal file within the shootout noticed Vics clinch a 5-4 win after Ross Taylor hit the bar for the guests.
However boss MacDuff reckons his gamers had been lucky to return by unscathed - and arrange a second spherical conflict away to Troon – after a below-par show.
And he insists they might want to increase their sport for this weekend’s return to league motion away to Bellshill.
He stated: “Cup soccer is at all times tough however our efficiency wasn’t on the degree it’s been at just lately.
“We had been lacking six gamers however that’s not an excuse as a result of that’s why now we have a squad.
“The door was open for gamers to return in and present what they will do. However it wasn’t simply them - the boys who've been taking part in didn’t increase their sport both.
“We’re by and I suppose that’s the primary factor, however the lesson must be that we are able to’t afford to let our requirements drop. You do this and also you run the danger of getting caught out.
“We’ll sit up for going to Troon – they’ve an excellent set-up there – and we’ve nothing to lose as a result of they would be the favourites.
“However the league is our bread and butter and we want to ensure we're again at it in opposition to Bellshill.”
Vics survived a serious scare inside the primary 10 minutes when Taylor pounced on Steven Gaffney’s quick headed again move, rounded goalkeeper Owen McCallum and shot into the facet netting.
The hosts went on to dominate the rest of the primary half nonetheless with Gerald Clark, Adam and John McLaughlan all losing good probabilities to open the scoring.
Adam was thwarted by a superb save and a goal-line clearance early within the second half earlier than lastly making the breakthrough in 67 minutes with a wonderful strike from 17 yards.
However parity was restored three minutes later when Gaffney tripped Jake West within the field and Taylor tucked away the resultant spot kick.
Vics had been then left watching an early exit when West netted by way of a lucky deflection off Gaffney to place Fraserburgh 2-1 in entrance.
However with two minutes left, Shane Jackson and Fraserburgh captain Neil Haye tangled legs within the field and the Vics’ man bought the advantage of the doubt to throw his facet a lifeline from the spot.
Adam squeezed residence his effort from 12 yards earlier than netting once more within the shootout together with Chris Jackson , Lewis McCracken, Graham Condon and Clarke.
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