Goals from Jerome Vareille and Mark Roberts put holders Kilmarnock into the
fourth round of the Tennents Scottish Cup.
Killie looked determined to stamp their authority early on in front of
Stranraer's biggest crowd for 50 years.
Vareille had dispossessed home defender Tom Black in the opening minutes to
set up a chance for Paul Wright, but the striker, who has just signed a new
contract with Killie, shot straight at goalkeeper Gary Matthews.
Killie's new signing, former Celtic goalkeeper Gordon Marshall, did not touch
the ball until 10 minutes into the match but the visitors then went off the
boil.
Marshall was tested in the 17th minute when Paul Kinnaird began and ended a
great four-man move with a deep cross which the goalkeeper held under pressure.
After 23 minutes, Killie's Gary Holt burst through the middle but with
Vareille free to his right, opted to shoot and Matthews dived to collect the
ball.
The match had evened out by this stage and in the 27th minute, Kinnaird caused
problems again when his cross reached Paul McIntyre, but his shot through the
crowded box was held on the line by Marshall.
Kilmarnock broke the deadlock with 35 minutes gone. Wright slipped the ball to
Vareille and with Stranraer players appealing for offside, the Frenchman rounded
Matthews and slotted the ball into the empty net.
With five minutes of the half to go, Ally Mitchell blazed a Holt pass just
over the crossbar.
Four minutes into the second half, Kilmarnock confirmed their place in the
fourth round draw.
Roberts collected the ball from Mitchell and coolly placed his shot into the
net.
In the 53rd minute, Holt was shown the yellow card for a foul on Ian McAulay.
Wright squandered a chance to make it 3-0 in the 56th minute.
Vareille played
the ball in from the right but the striker skyed his shot and it fell kindly for
Matthews.
At the other end, Kinnaird fired a free kick on target but Marshall gathered
the ball.
On the hour mark, Kinnaird was booked for dissent.
Two minutes later, Roberts fired the ball inches wide from a Holt pass.
Vareille broke through the home defence again in the 69th minute but opted to
shoot and fired the ball wide with Dylan Kerr free on his right.
By now, the action was almost one-way. Wright tried his luck but his shot ran
straight to Matthews, then Vareille blasted the ball just wide.
Marshall had to move quickly off his line to hold a Black corner on an
impressive debut for Killie.
Stranraer manager Campbell Money rang the changes up front with a late
substitution, Scott Ramsay replacing Gordon Young, but it made no difference to
the outcome.
Stranraer: Matthews, Knox, Black, McIntyre, Campbell, Watson,
McAulay, Lansdowne, Young (Ramsay 79), English, Kinnaird.
Subs Not Used: McCaffrey, Friels.
Booked: McAulay, Kinnaird.
Kilmarnock: Marshall, MacPherson, Kerr, Lauchlan, McGowne,
Reilly, Mitchell, Holt, Wright, Roberts, Vareille.
Subs Not Used: Baker, Bagan, Henry.
Booked: Holt.
Goals: Vareille 45, Roberts 49.
Att: 4,468
Ref: J Fleming (Glasgow).
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