Gartcairn rout at EK Thistle pleases boss Mick Dunlop, as side atone for poor show at Kello Rovers

Gartcairn gaffer Mick Dunlop was pleased with his side’s response to last week’s poor Junior Cup show at Kello - as they hammered EK Thistle 7-0 in round two of the West of Scotland Cup.

The MTC Park side were well below par as they edged past Third Division Kello in a 3-2 win on October 14 and the Premier outfit took out their frustrations on Fourth Division EK to progress in this competition.

Doubles from Mark McGuigan, Jamie Taggart, Kamil Krol, Jack McIlveen and Alan Cook did the damage at the Showpark.

"These ties away from home can be tricky, as we saw last week, but I thought we were far more professional this week in our performance levels and I was much happier," Dunlop told the club media.

"It was the same message before this game as we gave them last week, but we gave away a poor goal so early last week at Kello and that set the tone.

"This was the complete opposite. We imposed ourselves in the game well and managed to get goals. Without being disrespectful, we could have scored more.

"The pitch was really good and we got after them early doors. We got two goals in the first five or six minutes and that really set the tone.

"It was difficult for them [EK Thistle] once it got to that situation, but to score seven goals away from home and keep a clean sheet to get into the next round, you can't ask any more. It was a good day's work.

Gartcairn return to league business this weekend when they travel to Irvine Meadow, a side they beat 1-0 at home last month.

Dunlop, whose side sit 11th, added: "Every game is difficult in the Premier Division.

"We've played Irvine recently and beat them, so I'm sure they will be right up for it.

"We are on a good run. In our last league game we beat Darvel [2-0 on September 30] in