Bobby: My goal from a corner was fluke; THE Homecoming Scotland SCOTTISH CUP.

Byline: KENNY MacDONALD reports

STENHOUSEMUIR 0

EAST FIFE 1

BOBBY LINN lashed in a late winner straight from a corner then came clean by confessing he never meant to score.

The Fifers' frontman swept the ball over in driving wind and rain and it swirled beyond keeper Scott Bennett before finding the net off the junction of post and bar.

Linn said: "I didn't mean it.

I had messed up the corner I took previously so I just tried to put it to the back post and luckily for me it has gone in.

"I thought it was going to be a draw and when I scored I didn't really know how to celebrate but then the boys all got in a wee huddle."

The match was ruined by the appalling conditions and it took 25 minutes for Stenny to register a shot on target.

Kevin Motion picked out Jordan Smith with a free-kick and the wind carried his effort past Willie McCulloch before the keeper twisted to avert the danger on his line.

Motion saw a rising shot crash off the bar before Bennett failed to hold a low, 30-yard free-kick from Paul McManus at the other end but Jon Smart failed to cash in as the ball ran loose in the box.

The Fifers rallied after the break with Chris Templeman forcing Willie McCulloch into a smart stop at his near post.

But the tie looked destined for a replay until the visitors were given a disputed corner five minutes from time to set the scene for Linn's dramatic winner.

Delighted East Fife gaffer Dave Baikie (below) said: "It took a superb goal to win the match.

"I thought we were much the better side in the second half and controlled the game in the main. Stenny never carved us open."

"It looked as if it was going to take something special to separate the teams and that's what we got from Bobby."

Home manager John Coughlin said: "We had no cutting edge but it was never a corner and I'm not happy to be out of the cup with a freakish goal like that."

CAPTION(S):

Linn: Bagged late winner