McGinn strike sees Bhoys march on

NIALL MCGINN’S left-footed strike after 35 minutes gave Celtic a 1-0 victory over Morton in their Active Nation Scottish Cup fourth-round tie at Cappielow last night.

The Clydesdale Bank Premier League side had not seriously troubled Ton goalkeeper Colin Stewart before striker Marc-Antoine Fortune cut the ball back for the former Derry City player who drove past Stewart from 12 yards.

Celtic will now go away to Irn-Bru Second Division side Stenhousemuir in the next round, if Dunfermline, who were thrown out of the competition by the Scottish Football Association (SFA) for breaking various rules in their win against the Warriors, do not win their appeal.

Celtic had the edge in class throughout and in the 35th minute it showed when McGinn fired them ahead with a perfectly-executed goal.

As Celtic probed down the left, the Northern Ireland international was perfectly placed to meet a Fortune cut-back and thrash a left-footed shot past Stewart from 12 yards for what proved to be the winner.

Steven Whittaker, meanwhile, struck twice in extra-time as Rangers booked their place in the fifth round at Hamilton’s expense.

This was the third meeting in 10 days between the two clubs, with Accies earning a 3-3 draw at the first time of asking and then losing narrowly to Walter Smith’s men in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League at the weekend.

Hamilton once again frustrated the holders and forced the replay to extra-time but two goals in four minutes from Whittaker ensured Rangers progressed to a meeting with St Mirren in the next round.

Elsewhere, James O’Connor stooped to head a late winner as Doncaster booked their place in the FA Cup fourth round with a narrow win over Brentford at Griffin Park last night.

The third-round tie had looked destined for a replay at the Keepmoat Stadium on Saturday thanks to an off-day from Rovers striker Billy Sharp but O’Connor saved the Bees a trip with his 87th-minute goal.

Cardiff needed a slice of luck to secure their place in the FA Cup fourth round as Bradley Orr’s own goal settled last night’s third-round replay with Bristol City.

The clash of Coca-Cola Championship rivals looked set to go to extra-time until 17 minutes from time, when Michael Chopra struck the post and the ball rebounded and hit City full-back Orr before finding the back of the net.

Notts County earned a fourth-round meeting with Premier League Wigan after they edged out Forest Green Rovers 2-1 at Meadow Lane. Kasper Schmeichel was called upon to save with his feet from Jonathan Smith as the Blue Square Premier club hit back and they were rewarded with a 63rd-minute equaliser through Isaiah Rankin.

However, less than a minute later Lee Hughes restored the hosts’ lead with a 25-yard shot high into the net.

Accrington Stanley will play Fulham after beating Gillingham 1-0.

Graeme Lee’s volley hit the bar and less than two minutes later they were ahead through Stephen Hunt’s close-range shot.

Meanwhile Tom Soares and Leon Clarke grabbed second-half goals against Blackpool to maintain Alan Irvine’s perfect start to his Sheffield Wednesday reign and lift the resurgent Owls out of the Coca-Cola Championship relegation zone.

On-loan Stoke midfielder Soares drove a 20-yard shot into the top corner in the 71st minute and substitute Clarke added a late second to give Irvine his second win inside four days and leave Blackpool stunned.

Charlie’s Adam injury-time strike was little consolation for Blackpool.