New Coin Holdings West of Scotland Cup Second Round

KILSYTH RANGERS 3

ARDEER THISTLE 3 (Kilsyth won 4-2 on penalties)

BRAVE Thistle were knocked out of of the showpiece event on penalties, but put up a gallant display against their Super League First Division opponents.

Kisyth's management team had resigned in midweek prior to the fixture after a run of disappointing results, and this likely affected the hosts as they weren't at the races in the early stages with Ardeer, despite currently sitting at the foot of the Ayrshire & District League, impressing on the attack.

The visitors opened the scoring eight minutes after kick-off. Some fine set-up play from Derek Kennedy in midfield saw him turn two defenders simultaneously and play the ball into Kwaku Nyame advancing on goal. His shot was parried away by goalie Michael Duke but Alexandro Scotchfield beat the defence to the loose ball to net the rebound and score his first goal.

Ardeer's initial lead only lasted five minutes as Alan McFadden beat the offside trap on the left flank with his low cross being turned into his own net by Thistle defender Adam Easdon. However, Kilsyth's parity was short-lived as Ardeer regained the advantage two minutes later, James Maxwell's corner kick being cleared only as far as Ryan Morrow 20 yards out who hit a blistering shot at goal which Duke got a hand to but couldn't keep out of the net.

Thistle keeper Aron Dorigo helped to maintain the lead, tipping over Francis Kelly's effort from outside the box and saving Mark Duffy's tame header in first half stoppage time. Ardeer immediately forged up the park with Duke denying Kennedy at his near post for a corner kick from which Ardeer scored their third goal, Maxwell's low corner being swept in by Adam Easdon to give the visitors a two-goal cushion at the break.

Ardeer couldn't sustain their first half performance level for the remainder of the game as Kilsyth fought back after the interval. Ardeer's lead was reduced to one in 62 minutes, Duffy heading in from Kelly's cross after Ryan Morrow had been dispossessed in midfield. Seven minutes later the same two players combined again for the leveller as Kelly's low drive being parried away by Dorigo but Duffy was well placed to net the rebound.

There was still all to play for but the home side looked the most likely to find the winning goal and very nearly did so in stoppage time, twice hitting the woodwork within the space of a couple of minutes. Ardeer held out until the full-time whistle but started the penalty shootout badly when Duke saved Matthew Stevenson's penalty. All other spot kicks were converted until Derek Kennedy struck Ardeer's fourth wide, with Corey Pearson then stepping up to successfully confirm Kilsyth's progress to the next round.

Ayrshire Weekly Press Cup Second Round

ARDEER THISTLE 0

AUCHINLECK TALBOT 5

THISTLE last week crashed heavily at home to Talbot.

Jamie Glasgow opened the scoring in four minutes and Dwayne Hyslop doubled the lead two minutes later. In 13 minutes Hyslop made it 3-0 and in 35 minutes Glasgow netted his second. The scoring was rounded off by Talbot assistant boss and former Kilwinning Rangers player Allan McLuckie in 73 minutes.