IAIN Diack joked that he had chosen the wrong position after the Sauchie manager had to play in goal for the side in their cup shock on Saturday.

The former midfielder was forced to don the gloves as stopper Darren Dolan couldn’t make the game and their replacement pulled out at the last minute.

The Sauchie boss put in a solid display as the side beat Lowland League Dalbeattie Star 2-1 in the Scottish Cup and later admitted he had past success in goal.

Diack told Advertiser Sport: “Funnily enough, it’s the third time I’ve played in goals.

“I did it once for Albion Rovers, after our goalkeeper was sent off late in the game, and then for Pollock when the goalie got injured after only five minutes.

“We won both those games and that’s now three undefeated as a goalkeeper. So, maybe I’ve been playing in the wrong position all those years.

“We all need to help in our way at times and I am just glad to do that.

“But, I’ll be glad to get my goalkeepers back.”

Sauchie took the lead when Mark Sharp nodded in Darren Petrie’s corner, before Dalbeattie hit back when Terry Hewitt’s short pass back was pounced upon.

But, after suffering two late heartbreaks in recent weeks, it was the Reds who scored in the dying embers of extra time when Ryan Millar slotted home a Darren Cummings cross.

Diack continued: “We played really, really well. In extra time we were well worth the win and we passed the ball really well.

“The way we have lost the last two games and then Saturday showed that the boys are learning. It was a tough game and it was really pleasing to get through.

“The encouragement has been there since the start of the season and I know how good the lads are.

“As I’ve said before, when you’ve got a young squad, there are going to be ups and downs and we just need to learn. You can only learn by going through the lows unfortunately.

“We have a good young squad who will mature together and it’s offering plenty of encouragement.”

The win sends Sauchie into the third round of the Scottish Cup, where they could face the likes of Alloa based BSC Glasgow of the Lowland League.

But Diack insisted the side should have nothing to fear.

He added: “It’s a big cup to go and win and there are a lot of good teams like Spartans and Kelty Hearts and we are just delighted to get into the next round.

“There’s no reason we can’t beat anybody in either the league or cup. Dalbeattie drew with Kelty earlier in the season and so we can take plenty of encouragement from that.

“We are more than capable of competing at that level of football and just need to get over some of these inconsistencies.”