FORMER Ardencaple youngster Lewis Crawford revealed he relished the challenge of going up against Niall McGinn on Saturday – and hopes his display has secured him a starting spot in weeks to come.

Dumbarton’s 19-year-old former Caple right-back was part of the Sons defence who kept Aberdeen at bay for 86 minutes, before Sam Cosgrove netted a late penalty to put the hosts’ name in the hat for the Scottish Cup fifth round draw.

McGinn has played more than 400 games for club and country and scored at the European Championships in 2016.

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It was Crawford’s first start for Sons since August, although he did enjoy a successful loan spell at junior side Rossvale earlier in the season.

He said: “We’re gutted at the way and the time they scored the goal but we can’t be disheartened with the performance against one of the top teams in the country.

“I hope I’ve done enough to stay in the team and I was thinking in the back of my mind that if we keep it tight and I put in a good defensive performance then hopefully it will kick off a run in the team for me.

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“I knew I would have had a bit more defending to do so I was more concentrating on that rather than going forward, which I never done much.

“I was looking forward to being up against McGinn, though, and I was searching him up on YouTube on Thursday and Friday night to try and pick up a thing or two.

“He’s played hundreds of games for club and country. I tried to keep him as minimal of a threat as possible because if you give him time and opportunities he’ll punish you, and I thought I did pretty well.”

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