JOHNSTONE Burgh manager Jamie McKim hailed goalkeeper Stuart Collins for his penalty heroics on Saturday – but admits he was raging at his shot-stopper midway through their shootout victory. 

The Keanie Park side battled to a 1-1 draw with 10 men in Dundee against East Craigie before coming out on top in a penalty shoot-out as Collins saved three and scored one of his own to set up a last 16 tie with Kirkintilloch Rob Roy.

Jack Wilkie had given the home side the lead on 31 minutes, and when Burgh were reduced to 10 men after an hour, they were right up against it.

Jojo Gillespie fired in a stunner for McKim’s side just five minutes after going a man down and they managed to withstand the hosts pressure, and six minutes of injury time, to force spot kicks with Gillespie, Collins, Cammy McNeill, Stuart Fyfe and Ryan Wallace all converting to secure a 5-4 victory.

Last week, McKim’s side missed their fourth penalty of the season that would have seen them progress in the South Challenge Cup against Greenock and the Burgh boss was cursing the wasted chances from 12 yards.

But he now hopes that is behind them and teased his number one goalkeeper may now be his number one penalty taker.

Speaking to Gazette Sport, he said: “It wasn’t the way we wanted it go but we had to and we came through so we’re delighted. We went up on the bus and the target was to come back home being in the last 16 of the Scottish Cup and that’s what we’ve done. 

“Stuart has been asking to take them for long enough and I think he’s one of the best penalty takers at the club. We put him on the fifth one on Saturday so we trust him and it was a brilliant finish from him. He’s definitely up there. 

“He also saved three – but don’t get me wrong, I wanted to kill him after the first one as he attempted the backflip. I was thinking he could have got injured. 

“He was great and it’s good to have him back and about the place. He’s just a positive influence. 

“He had some good saves and a good penalty so I’m happy with him.” 
Cup duty continues for Burgh this weekend when they face Renfrew in the West of Scotland Cup and McKim knows the difficulty of the task that lies ahead.

He said: “We’ll set the team up in such a way that we can have a go but be secure defensively and try and get a win.”