SAUCHIE JUNIORS assistant manager Davie Beaton was disappointed that his side crashed out of the cup on penalties but was proud of his team's performance.

The Reds hosted Bo'ness United in the third round of the East of Scotland Cup on Saturday at Beechwood Park which ended 2-2 in an extra time thriller.

Sauchie would go on to lose 4-3 in the penalty shootout as Brian Morgan and Ross Kavanagh both missed their penalties despite keeper Chic Bell saving and scoring in the shootout.

Speaking to Advertiser Sport after the match Beaton said: "Disappointing, obviously – the boys are gutted, but, to be fair, performance-wise, you couldn't ask any more from them.

"In my opinion we were the better team, we created a lot more chances than them. Yes, they are always a threat and they are a good side as well who are a league above who will cause you problems, but the problems they did cause we managed very well and we were able to get on the front foot and take it to them.

"The message before the game was to be right at it and be on the front foot and to be brave and the boys have done that."

Beaton was supportive of his team in the aftermath of the defeat and told them to take pride from the performance.

When asked what he said to the team in the dressing room after their defeat Beaton said: "Be proud of the performance, be proud of your personal performance and be proud of the fact you've taken Bo'ness to extra time and to be fair they took us to extra time and to penalties because they were hanging on.

"We just couldn't get that killer goal."

Sauchie have been their own worst enemy this season when conceding goals and their game against Bo'ness was no exception as both goals conceded were due to their own mistakes.

Beaton said: "If we can cut out the stupid goals... You don't mind losing a great goal if a team cuts you open or it's a worldie goal, you can accept that, but you can't accept basic defending or basic clearing the ball in the box that kind of stuff."

Looking to the future, Beaton said: "From now to the end of the season we want to get into the top six, around about there if we can win our games in hand, so it's going on a run to the end of the season then looking at next season and saying right we've got a real good chance to do something in the league."