William Hill Scottish Cup Second Round

BEITH JUNIORS 4

LINLITHGOW ROSE 0

A BUMPER crowd at Bellsdale Park saw Beith produce a fine performance to defeat the fancied east coast visitors and reap the reward of a hugely exciting third round home clash with Ladbrokes Championship high-flyers Ayr United.

Jamie Wilson gave the hosts a dream start when he found some space from a quickly taken Joe Bradley free-kick and blasted an unstoppable dipping shot from fully 30 yards past Gow keeper Marley.

The game continued at at a high tempo with both sides looking to attack. However it was Beith who doubled their lead after 12 minutes when they applied more pressure. A trademark surging run and shot from Paul Frize was deflected for a corner and from the delivery, John Sheridan headed into the top corner well out of the reach of the big keeper.

The shell-shocked visitors gradually regained some composure and began to ask some questions of their own but Coyne missed a proverbial sitter when he miscued horribly six yards out from a Mark MacLennan cut back. Soon after, Ronald had another decent chance but he headed tamely into Grindlay’s arms with the home side looking a bit fragile for a period.

Both sides were fully committed and the referee steadily noted names in his book throughout. Half time in a thrilling contest duly arrived with Darren Christie and Tommy Coyne both missing the target from decent opportunities in the box at either end.

Beith haven’t enjoyed much luck in recent games but they got one a slice minutes after the restart when Gow keeper Marley failed to deal with a Bradley cross, allowing Darren Christie a chance in front of goal that he wasn’t going to miss and he promptly shot home. Things got worse soon after for the now unravelling visitors when Gary Thom stupidly collected a second yellow card for continuing to mouth off at the referee.

The Bellsdale side were now pretty much in complete control with Jamie Wilson winning all the 50-50’s in midfield and Joe Bradley and Paul Frize continuing to take the ball forward constructing some lovely moves.

Frize totally extinguished any faint 'Gow comeback hopes in 63 minutes when he burst forward and found the net via the post with a fine right foot shot from 20 yards.

Beith made personnel changes but kept a tight grip on proceedings and went close to inflicting more damage to a disconsolate Linlithgow side, who were lucky not to lose another player when Barbour cynically chopped down Ross McPherson as he burst clear. Connor McGlinchy smashed a pile-driver of a shot off the crossbar in the closing minutes before the referee brought a great performance from Beith to a close.

Beith had some top class individual performers but there were no failures in a great all-round team display.

BEITH: Grindlay; McGlinchey, Noble, N Docherty, Sheridan, Wilson, Christie, Frize, Milliken, Collins, Bradley. Subs: McPherson, Middleton, McGowan, R Docherty, Green, D Miller (gk).

LINLITHGOW ROSE: Marley Grey, Turnbull, Thom, Ovenstone, Barbour, Batchelor, MacLennan, MacLennan, Coyle, Ronald. Subs: Sloan, Strickland, Watt, Smith, Urquart, MacKinnon, MacLean (gk)