AFTER A fortnight’s rest, the Danes stormed back into action with a commanding 7-2 win over Southside Athletic, booking their spot in the fourth round of the West of Scotland District Cup.
Ally McLean, Jack McKirdy and Sean Lawrence got their names on the scoresheet, but the star of the show was Sean Lawrence, as he struck five times to take his season total to an impressive 18 goals already.
Lawrence had his first effort on goal eight minutes in, after good work from Ronan Officer down the left- hand side found him on the edge of the box, but his curled effort sailed over the bar but it wasn’t long before the Danes took the lead.
Goalkeeper Ryan Leitch found Lawrence in behind from his goal- kick on 12 minutes, Lawrence sold a dummy to the sliding Southside defender and placed his shot past the keeper to get his first of the day.
But four minutes later Southside had their first real chance as their number eight managed to bundle his way through a sea of Danes jerseys on the edge of the box, but he rushed his shot and put it over the crossbar.
And the Danes got their second goal on the 21st minute as Jack McKirdy received the ball from a throw-in on the right touchline.
The Danes’ ten let the ball run between his legs, leaving his marker bewildered, before playing a one-two with Ronan Officer on the edge of the box and placing the ball low into the corner with his weaker left foot.
After half an hour the Danes made it three through yet more great distribution from Ryan Leitch in goal.
He claimed a Southside cross and immediately played the ball long to Sean Lawrence who was one-v-one with the Southside centre back.
Lawrence came out on top and found himself bearing down on goal, he kept his composure and rolled the ball past the keeper to extend the lead to three before the break.
Southside cane out fighting after the interval and had a chance to get one back on 53 minutes.
A free kick was awarded on the edge of the Danes box and their number 14 stepped up to take it,.
His effort hit the wall and landed at the feet of Sean Lawrence, who carried the ball deep into the Southside half before finding Bailey Gilmour, Gilmour picked out an unmarked Ronan Officer but the Southside keeper managed to parry his shot wide.
Gilmour was involved again a minute later, picking up the ball on the right wing and playing a perfectly weighted pass into the path of the motoring Jack McKirdy in the centre of the park. McKirdy dribbled past two Southside defenders but dragged his shot wide of the post.
On the 73rd minute the home side pulled one back, a dangerous delivery from a corner was met by the head of the Southside striker on the cusp of the six yard box, leaving Leitch with no chance.
A crazy few minutes were to follow, one minute after Southside scored Ronan Officer picked up the ball on the left-hand side.
He showed great composure and awareness to hold onto the ball and then released Jack McKirdy in behind, McKirdy unselfishly squared the ball across goal for Lawrence to tap-in and complete his hat-trick.
On 76 minutes, two minutes after the Danes scored, Southside found the net again.
Southside won the ball back on the edge of the Danes box and their number seven turned sharply and found the bottom corner with a good strike.
But the Danes settled any nerves on the 83rd minute, with substitute Ally McLean finding the net.
Ronan Officer was again involved, causing the home side problems all game.
This time his cross was cleared by the Southside defender, but the ball fell to the feet of McLean and he showed good technique to hit the shot first-time past the keeper.
The Danes managed to add a further two goals in injury time, both coming from Sean Lawrence.
For the first, Lawrence dispossessed the Southside keeper who attempted to dribble past him, he won the ball back then found the empty net from 25 yards.
Lawrence then completed the scoring with the last kick of the game. Ronan Officer latched on to a misplaced Southside pass, he released Lawrence first time and Lawrence rounded the keeper and smashed the ball in to the net to score his fifth goal of the day and the
Danes seventh, to round of a superb scoringday.
Next up for the Danes is yet more cup action, this time in the Douglas Smith League Cup.
High-flying Drumchapel travel to Rothesay for the rescheduled cup tie which kicks off at 2pm this weekend.
Following turbulent weather, the game will be played at Rothesay Joint Campus.
Full team:
1. R. Leitch; 2. C. Robertson; 3. J. Livingstone; 4. R. Fisher; 5. C. Lawrence; 6. L. McMillan; 7. R. Officer; 8. Y. Basit; 9. S. Lawrence; 10. J. McKirdy; 11. B. Gilmour; 12. A. McLean; 13. L. Tritschler.
