Latest news with #Mimnaugh
Daily Record
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
East Kilbride's kick up backside put Bonnyrigg Rose play-off in our favour, but tie is far from over
Kilby hold a 3-1 advantage going into Saturday's second leg after a strong second half showing at K-Park Reegan Mimnaugh revealed the half-time hairdryer treatment from boss Mick Kennedy helped East Kilbride blow Bonnyrigg Rose away in the second half of Saturday's play-off tie. The midfielder, who has been playing at left-wing back for EK, played a pivotal role in Kilby's 3-1 win in the first leg of the League Two play-off final, providing the assist for Cami Elliott's opener, clearing the ball off the line in the lead up to Elliott's second goal and then having a hand in the move that led to Jordan McGregor's clincher. Things didn't look so rosey for Kilby at the interval with Rosey Posey pulling level through Aaron Arnott's strike after 16 minutes. But Mimnaugh says the gaffer got them going with some choice words. The former Hamilton Accies man said: 'We started the game well, got an early goal and then we went a bit flat and lethargic. 'They got their goal, so we came in at half-time and got a boot up the a***, basically. 'He told us that we needed to move the ball quicker, we were too slow on the ball and we weren't sticking to the structure, so we took on that information and it worked. 'In the second half when we stuck to the structure, played through the lines, we are such a different team and we go on and score two brilliant goals. It is always a bonus to get assists. The main thing is that we get the win. 'It was a bit of a blur [the clearance]. I can remember knocking the ball off the line but I can't remember much after that. I'm just happy to help.' Kilby took a three-goal lead to Brora Rangers in the play-off semi-finals after a 4-1 win in the first leg, before going on to win 7-4 on aggregate. Mimnaugh is confident they can find the net at New Dundas Park in Saturday's second leg to seal a coveted and historic place in the SPFL, but knows the tie is far from over. He added: 'It is only half-time. Bonnyrigg have a tough pitch and it is a tough place to go so we know it is not over, but we are glad to go there with a two-goal lead. 'You need to show a different side to you, when you go places like that. We know we aren't going to get the ball down and play it through the lines. 'It will be a completely different game so we need to roll the sleeves up and get stuck in. 'We went to Brora and scored three goals so we know we are capable, we just need to keep the back door shut. 'We will try to go there to get a clean sheet and hopefully a goal or two as well.'
Press and Journal
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Press and Journal
Reaction and report as Brora Rangers left with mountain to climb in pyramid play-off
Brora Rangers boss Steven Mackay admitted they didn't do themselves justice after losing the first leg of their pyramid play-off semi-final tie against East Kilbride. The Cattachs were beaten 4-1 at K Park by the Lowland League champions, with the concession of two goals in the final 10 minutes proving costly, particularly as the home side played the final quarter with 10 men. If the Breedon Highland League champions are to progress to the play-off final against either Bonnyrigg Rose or Forfar Athletic they'll need to mount a miraculous comeback at Dudgeon Park next Saturday. Manager Mackay said: 'We didn't play well in the first half, but at one goal behind we were very much in the tie, it's going to take a colossal effort now. 'We've got to play with more freedom than we did here, whether it was nerves or we were leggy I don't know. 'But we were so off colour in the first half and it looked like there was a gulf between the teams, when in reality there isn't and we saw that for spells in the second half. 'We didn't do ourselves justice and we need to do ourselves justice next week.' Goals from Nathan Flanagan and Sean Fagan had East Kilbride 2-0 up at half-time, however, Max Ewan's strike gave Brora hope before late goals from Jack Leitch and Regan Mimnaugh put the Cattachs firmly on the back foot. Mackay added: 'East Kilbride were sharp and came out of the blocks very quickly. We changed the shape at half-time at 2-0 down and matched them up 4-3-3 and went more aggressive. 'We looked better, got the goal back and looked dangerous. 'They went down to 10 men and the tie was wide open and there's the opportunity to get a second goal. 'But East Kilbride were dangerous on the break all game and we made some fundamental errors when we had safe possession and we gifted them two goals to give ourselves a mountain to climb. 'Gary Pullen tried to get on the ball and he made a couple of errors which can happen in football, but they were clinical and punished us. 'To me it wasn't a 4-1 game, but we've got a tough task ahead of us.' Brora did a good job of frustrating East Kilbride in the early stages with the only effort of note being Mimnaugh's low drive from the edge of the penalty area which Cammy Mackay gathered. But in the 21st minute East Kilbride broke the deadlock. The Cattachs gave up possession cheaply at the edge of their own box, Mimnaugh stepped in and played a one-two with Leitch before teeing up Flanagan to finish from eight yards. Brora chances were at a premium in the first period. A Tony Dingwall delivery from the right just evaded James Wallace, which allowed Fagan to clear, while Craig MacKenzie's corner broke for Colin Williamson, whose flick drifted just wide. But the Sutherland side fell further behind four minutes shy of half-time. A Robertson cross from the right wasn't cleared by Brora and with the ball bouncing around Fagan pounced to fire a first time shot into the bottom right corner from 14 yards. At the end of the first period Flanagan crossed from the left, but Joao Balde failed to hit the target. Referee Alastair Grieve wasn't helping Brora's cause either with Jordan McGregor, Lewis Spence and Robertson all avoiding cautions for poor first half challenges. Brora needed the next goal and they started the second period with an increased purpose. Wallace went close with a fizzing 20-yard shot and then they got the goal they craved in the 63rd minute. A spell of pressure ended with Shane Sutherland's cross from the right falling for Ewan to sweep a low left-foot shot into the net from 12 yards. Four minutes later Brora's cause was boosted further by East Kilbride being reduced to 10 men. McGregor had been booked in the 55th minute for pulling back Shane Sutherland and he received a second yellow and then a red card for clattering MacKenzie as he tried to win a header. With the numerical advantage Brora tried to push for an equaliser, but their play in the final third was disjointed and they didn't work goalkeeper Chris Truesdale. Eight minutes from time the visitors were hit with a sucker-punch as East Kilbride netted their third. A slip from sub Gary Pullen allowed the hosts to counter-attack, Robertson's low cross from the right found Cameron Elliott, who laid off for Leitch to fire into the net from 12 yards. Brora almost pulled a goal back in the closing stages when Ewan weaved in from the right and saw his net-bound attempt from 15 yards deflected wide. But things got even worse for Brora when East Kilbride made it 4-1 with the last kick of the ball. Pullen was caught in possession and fouled Elliott 20 yards from goal before Mimnaugh superbly curled the resultant free-kick into the bottom right corner. East Kilbride manager Mick Kennedy said: 'In the first half I felt we deserved our 2-0 lead, but we started really sluggishly in the second half and Brora came into the game. 'When we went down to 10 men you start to get a bit concerned, but I thought we were outstanding. 'We looked dangerous and created numerous opportunities on the break. 'I'm delighted, we wanted to go up to Brora with some kind of lead so to have a three-goal lead is a fantastic performance from the boys.'
