DESPITE an overnight downpour, Pinkie Playing Fields were in decent shape for Musselburgh Windsor's third-round Scottish Cup tie against Glenrothes Strollers and a sizeable crowd turned up in anticipation of a closely contested match.

Although the standard of football never quite reached the level expected, it was nevertheless, an enthralling cup-tie. Windsor gave home debuts to three new signings, Craig Edwards, Ricky Miller and Bobby Gay and all three can be very happy with their performance, so much so, that all three were in the running for the man-of-the-match award.

The home side started at a very high tempo and immediately took the match to their opponents, who had yet to taste defeat this season, and there was little doubt the importance of the match had not been lost on the eager Windsor lads, and it was no surprise when their continual attacking play resulted in the opening goal inside the first fifteen minutes. Darren Flynn and Mark Moncrieff linked up well to create an opening, and from eight yards Flynn made no mistake with a low strike that beat the keeper at his near post. The celebrations that followed were an indication on how much this tournament meant to the home outfit.

Ten minutes later as the Windsor surged forward, a through ball into the visitors box saw Moncrieff and the keeper challenge for the ball and although the keeper was to avert the danger he was unfortunate enough to pick up a nasty head knock, and he took no further part in the match. This incident, which in no way can see any blame attached to the home player, seemed to affect the remainder of the half as both sides got bogged down in a dour midfield battle that saw the match through to the interval. Glenrothes had created only one chance of note throughout the half and that was from a corner that produced a magnificent save from Stevie Greens in the home goal.

The second half began with the Windsor again on the offensive, but a lack of composure in front of goal saw several decent chances go astray, Glenrothes seemed to take heart from the home sides inability to kill the game off and started to push forward in an attempt to level the match, but they were to meet the stern resistance of a solid Windsor backline, who were determined to keep their opponents at bay, but as is always the case, a single goal lead is always a precarious lead to defend, and Glenrothes must have thought, that midway through the second half their opportunity had arrived to level the match when the home keeper brought down the visitors striker and the referee immediately pointed to the spot.

There could be little argument with the officials decision, but the Windsor keeper pulled off a tremendous stop from the spot-kick. The penalty save spurred on the home side and ten minutes later they doubled their advantage when Flynn collected a ball from the right ten yards out and with great composure sent his shot into the bottom corner of the net.

Windsor lifted the pace of the game, and within five minutes they scored the clincher, when Lewis Mein picked the ball up wide right in midfield, charged forward evading two tackles and played a high ball into the box, his cross deceived everyone and found the net at the near post to complete the scoring. Man of the Match award goes to Michael Fruish for his neat and tidy support play in the middle of the park.