West of Scotland Cup First Round

KILWINNING RANGERS 4

SHETTLESTON 2

By Stewart McConnell

FIRM favourites Buffs staved off a shock Shettleston comeback before sealing their berth in second round of the showpiece event.

It was their fifth straight win since exiting the Scottish Junior Cup.

Chris Strain’s team took their foot off the gas after cruising into a 3-0 lead and paid the price as their lower league opponents hit two quick fire goals.

Buffs blasted ahead in three minutes when Carlo Monti latched on to a fine through ball and shot home from six yards.

The hosts were coasting in 10 minutes when Monti sent a rasping shot from 18 yards low into the bottom corner.

A Garry Fleming shot from a Monti corner-kick was cleared by the Shettleston defence in 19 minutes. In a rare Shettleston foray, Danny Irvine sent a 25-yard effort well wide in 21 minutes.

Then visiting player Ruiari Clark shot behind the goal from 20 yards two minutes later.

The hosts were in dreamland in 26 minutes when Alex McWaters made a surging run and sent a defence-splitting pass to Ben Lewis to knock home at the far post.

Ross Barclay shot wide from eight yards in 32 minutes.

The visitors were not far away in 35 minutes when Clark sent a 25-yard free-kick just over the bar.

Lewis had his strong effort saved and Alex McWaters blasted the rebound over the bar from six yards in 42 minutes.

Monti flashed a shot just wide from 20 yards in 44 minutes.

In 52 minutes, Samir Khan-Young saw his 20-yard shot deflected wide by a Buffs defender.

A minute later a Lewis free-kick from 25 yards went behind the goal.

McWaters set up Monti to shoot inches wide from 12 yards in 59 minutes,

Ryan Devenney made a great block to foil Ally from six yards in 66 minutes. Then Jonny Howat slotted home for the visitors. Ross Barclay set up Young to nudge the ball home from four yards in 69 minutes to pull Town within a goal.

Monti saw his 25-yard effort well saved a minute later. The same player saw his lob hit the post a minute later. Then Monti’s 16-yard rocket produced a superb one-handed save in 73 minutes.

Back came Buffs to restore their three-goal lead in 78:minutes when McWaters set up Lewis to drill home from eight yards. A Lewis shot from eight yards produced a fine save from the goalie in 87 minutes as Buffs saw the game out.

KILWINNING RANGERS: Markey; Whyte, McGowan Jnr, Syme, Hanvey, McWaters, Frye, Monti, Lewis, McColm. Subs: Maitland, McGowan Snr, Tan, Agnew, Strain.