Ten goals in eight games for Spartans midfielder Horribine

Dougie Samuel’s side eased past the holders, Horribine netting the first and providing the second for Jamie Dishington to put them two goals to the good before half-time. Another early in the second half from Horribine made sure, before George Hunter rounded off the scoring late on.

Those strikes made it ten goals in eight games for the former Hibs and Berwick midfielder, who modestly claims he’s enjoyed some luck during his recent purple patch. “In training I’ve been practicing shooting and things like that but, in games, it’s just been a bit of luck as well,” he explained. “I’ve been getting a bit of grief from the boys who’ve been saying there’s been a few sclaffs in amongst the goals but I’ll take them – they all count!

“As long as we keep winning, scoring and getting assists is a bonus. We’re into the next round and that’s the main thing.”

An early foray from Michael Herd saw him twist and turn into a good scoring position before squaring to Horribine, but his close range attempt was blocked by Arnault Bembo when a goal looked certain.

Keith Murray then put Alan Brown in on goal with a clever reverse pass, but Derick Moore was out quickly to block, before Jack Beesley didn’t connect properly with a cut back and fired wide.

The opener came on 22 minutes. A sliced Craig Stevenson shot inadvertently found Dishington. He teed up Horribine, who continued his recent run of goals with a low shot that Moore got a hand to but couldn’t keep out.

Jack Beesley should have made it 2-0 on his return to the starting line-up. A wonderful lofted pass from Stevenson put the wide man one-on-one with Moore, although his lob over the advancing keeper dropped just wide of the far post.

The hosts did double their advantage on the stroke of half-time. Horribine this time turned provider, standing the ball up for Dishington at the back post, and the smallest man on the park guided his header across Moore into the far corner.

It was game over just five minutes after the restart. Horribine and Murray played a neat one-two on the edge of the area, and the former slotted home.

Aiden Ferris spurned BSC’s best opportunity just before the hour when he stumbled after taking a touch, clumsily knocking the ball against Ross Gilpin and out for a corner. Gilpin then had to look sharp to keep out Stephen Bronchi’s header from a Vincent Newlines free-kick.

The Spartans keeper was having a busy spell as Grant Dickie’s curling effort from distance needed tipped over before it found the top corner.

Horribine was denied a hat-trick after Moore stopped another powerful strike, but Hunter succeeded where his teammate failed, curling a fine fourth goal into the bottom corner as the game moved into stoppage time. With one final still to come and a semi place assured, Horribine is hoping for a kind draw as Spartans chase their first silverware for two years.

“The final’s in a couple of weeks against a good team in East Kilbride, and hopefully we get a good draw in this cup as well,” he said. “It’s shaping up to potentially be a good season.”

Spartans: Gilpin, Brown, Stevenson (Mair 64), Sanderson, McNab, Greenville, Beesley (Hunter 64), Herd, Murray, Horribine, Dishington.

BSC Glasgow: Moore, Home, Toner, A Bembo, Brodsky, Touhy (Newlands 57), Dickie (Jones 70), Cunningham, Ferris, Corrieri, Cameron (Bembo 81).