SKELTON: THAT'S MY LAST PENALTY

GUTTED Gavin Skelton admits he will never take a spot-kick again after his Scottish Cup Final penalty agony.

The midfielder blazed his effort against the bar to hand the cup to Hearts after a heroic performance from the Second Division champions.

Rudi Skacel had given Hearts a 38th-minute lead but Ryan McGuffie netted the rebound after Craig Gordon had saved his 75th-minute penalty to take the Hampden clash into extra-time.

Hearts and Scotland star Paul Hartley, who takes the Jambos penalties, was red-carded in the final minute of extra-time and the Borderers seemed slight favourites for the shoot-out.

But Rowan Alexander's heroes were left heartbroken when Derek Townsley's kick was saved by Gordon then Skelton's attempt rattled the bar.

Skelton said: "I am absolutely gutted. I can't put it into words. We'll probably never get a better chance to win.

"I've taken spot-kicks at every club I've been at and never miss in training so I volunteered - but it wasn't to be.

"That's me retired from hitting them. What makes it worse is turning on the TV and seeing my ugly mug remind me of it.

"We didn't have any set order of who was hitting them and it was just decided on the spur of the moment but I'm gutted."

No matter how disappointed Skelton is he remains proud of what his side have achieved and revealed his team-mates were the first to console him after his penalty miss.

He said: "We've achieved a lot this season and I'm really proud but at the moment it feels like I'm in a lonely place.

"However, all the boys have been spot on. John O'Neil came over and just told me to get my head up and, to be honest, that's a moment I'll remember for ever.

"We must move on and next year we'll be at a higher level again. Eventually we want to be playing the likes of Hearts every week."

Gretna scorer McGuffie extended his sympathies to the spot-kick sinners after his kick during the game was stopped by Gordon.

McGuffie stepped up after Deividas Cesnauskis had brought down O'Neil. Gordon went the right way but the Gretna man got to the rebound to knock it home.

McGuffie, who was down to take the Borderers' fifth penalty, said: "I feel sorry for Derek and Gavin who have been immense all year.

"The boys have to be proud of what they've done this season. I'm proud of every one of them.

"It was a magnificent team performance. In the first half we just settled into our game but I thought in the second half we were the best team on the park.

"We were magnificent and I think the final was the moment that Gretna arrived in Scottish football.

"I was down for the fifth penalty and had no worries about taking it but in the end the shootout never got that far."

McGuffie admits it was a dream to score in a cup final - even if his penalty wasn't convincing

He added: "I didn't have time to panic as it happened so quickly.

"If I'm being honest I did s*** myself when Craig saved but fortunately I got to the rebound first. It's a dream to score in the cup final but it's not really sunk in yet that I've done it."

McGuffie believes the country will remember this Scottish Cup Final for years to come.

He added: "It feels like a win for us. We've had a great season and showed we're a decent side.

"The chairman was emotional at the end but told us to keep our heads high.

"It's not often the team that loses a cup final is remembered but we'll be remembered for a while. We gave Hearts a real scare."

Taken from the Sunday Mail