St Cuthbert Wanderers take encouragement from narrow Caledonian Braves defeat

dailyrecord.co.uk:

St Cuthbert Wanderers were able to take plenty of heart from their Tweedie Cup exit. The Kirkcudbright side were narrowly beaten 2-1 by Lowland League side Caledonian Braves, having led thanks to a goal from Fraser Campbell.

Craig Rudd, who is taking the team along with Raymond Gordon and Ally McMillan, said: “It’s still a defeat but what a difference to the week before in the performance in terms of energy, tempo – everything. “The only thing that cost us in the end was we travelled with a small squad.

We lost our left back after 10 minutes, so we had to reshuffle a wee bit. “We had two subs, plus myself and one said he only had 15 minutes in him. “I’m confident if we had a bigger squad we’d have come away with a result but it’s something to build on.” Campbell, who has on loan from Queen of the South, scored in the first half to have Saints dreaming of a shock at the break.

However, their Lanarkshire hosts struck twice in the second half to ensure they went through. Rudd said: “On Thursday night we worked on a bit of shape and the boys were absolutely excellent until they ran out of steam a wee bit. “In the first half we should have been 4-0 up, we had three clear cut chances and the keeper has made some good saves. “It wasn’t to not to be but we’re a lot more positive than we were a week earlier. “They’re full-time, the manager said five had played the night before in the league and they had some first team players just coming back from injury. “They were a young team but still sharp.” Saints are back in familiar surroundings this weekend as they welcome Creetown to St Mary’s Park.