However, Scott Dalziel answered his manager's wishes with a goal after 13 minutes and the Warriors ended up going nap against Clach to move into the fourth round of the Homecoming Scottish Cup.

"We came up here expecting a really tough game, it was a potential banana skin, so it was imperative we scored the first goal," said John Coughlin.

"We showed a bit of quality from then on, which was pleasing because teams that travel north often go into their shell.

"So, overall, it was a good victory and a good performance."
Despite a pitch that had been frosted over earlier in the day, everyone was happy – after a long journey – that the game still went ahead while others in the area were being called off.

And Dalziel's opener from outside of the box, after Paul Tyrrell's high ball was not dealt with by defender Steven MacDonald, warmed the visiting supporters further.

A swift break forward, eight minutes later, saw Robert Love set up Andy Brand for a shot but the first was blocked and the midfielder fired over from the rebound.

More crucially, though, Brand was caught in a challenge and had to be stretchered off with an injured ankle.

Scott Bennett then brilliantly saved Gordon Morrison's snapshot at the other end, shortly before the Warriors extended their lead further.

Craig McEwan fed Love on an overlapping run and his pinpoint cross picked out Dalziel who made no mistake, heading home his second of the tie.

Stenhousemuir continued where they left off after the break, with Love's shot well saved and the rebound hit just over by Kevin Motion.

Yet, in the 63rd minute, the visitors did find the net again to go three up and, once more, Dalziel was at the heart of it.

His shot was only pushed across goal by keeper David Harrison and Brand's replacement, Stevie Desmond, was quickest to react – placing the ball into an empty net.

To their credit, Clach's heads did not go down and Morrison squandered a great chance for a consolation goal when he picked up on a loose ball, but shot wide with only the keeper to beat.

Dalziel was then presented with a chance to grab his hat-trick from the penalty spot after Craig McEwan was felled in the box, and he took it with both hands – sending Harrison the wrong way from the spot.

He had little time to celebrate, however, as he was chopped down by a very late tackle just one minute later and the culprit, Colin Williamson, was lucky to escape with only a caution.

Stenhousemuir were still not finished, though, and made it five in the last minute of the game when Stevie Hampshire, who had replaced Dalziel, fired home a shot from just inside the box to seal a fine performance.

CLACHNACUDDIN 0

STENHOUSEMUIR 5
Dalziel 13, 28, 78 (pen), Desmond 53,
Hampshire 90
(HT 0-2)
Attendance: 350
Homecoming Scottish Cup
Third Round

Stenhousemuir: Bennett 7, McEwan 6 (Lyle 80, 2), McGroarty 6, Thom 7, Ovenstone 7, Thomson 6, Love 7, Brand 4 (Desmond 22, 6), Dalziel 9 (Hampshire 82, 2), Tyrrell 7, Motion 7
Not used: Renton, Shirra
Booked: McEwan 75

Referee: Gary Hilland