IT'S BEEN the story of Sauchie's season and yet again the Wee County side were punished for their own defensive frailties.

Civil Service Strollers became the latest side to benefit from the Reds' generosity as they triumphed in the Challenge Cup.

The Lowland League outfit's two goals came courtesy of lapses at the back and Sauchie skipper David Cross held his hands up in the wake of another inquiry at Beechwood Park.

Cross told Advertiser Sport: "We were the better team overall, but just gave away a couple of silly goals and that's been the story of our season.

"After we scored we could have pushed on, but we sat off a little bit more than we should have.

"We should have pressed them and looked for another, but it didn't happen and then they scored with really their only big chance of the second half.

"After that we shut up shop alright, but we just didn't put them to bed in the second half."

Strollers striker Josh Morris scored a brace, but couldn't believe his luck as Sauchie switched off either side of half-time.

Brett Young dallied when coming to collect a ball held up in the wind to let the 28-year-old pinch it – albeit by illegal looking means – and score.

Later, despite Graeme McGregor equalising to lift the Reds, Morris rose unmarked between Cross and Aidan McKeown to nod the winner home.

Cross, 24, continued: "We can't afford to make mistakes at the back and, myself included, can't afford to give away cheap goals.

"We need to tighten up and we are not far off it. I know we are saying that every week, but we do believe we are not far off it.

"They are a good outfit and doing well in their league and had a close game with Spartans so it shows their quality.

"Nobody can put their finger on it and that's a big question. It's maybe a wee bit of naivety and we are a young team.

"We need a bit more of experience from the older heads and that comes from myself being one of the older ones."

On paper, it seems it is all doom and gloom at Beechwood Park but Cross remains convinced the signs are there they will soon turn things around.

"We are not pointing fingers or shouting at each other," the former Stirling Albion man said.

"We have done good things and the thing which is pleasing for me is that when we make mistakes the boys are rallying together.

"We have shown in the last few weeks that when mistakes happen we have pushed on and got our way back into the game.

"So the signs are there that we are getting better now that the season is going on and we just need to keep digging. A result is coming.

"We need to start winning games and we don't care how it happens. We could sit in for 90 minutes and get battered, but would take the result.

"Once we give a team in our league a doing we will start to climb the table and I am not concerned right now."