ETHX Energy Scottish Junior Cup Quarter-Final

BEITH JUNIORS 3

ARTHURLIE 1

MASS celebrations erupted at Bellsdale Park as Beith clinched a place in the semi=finals of the showpiece event for the first time in 24 years.

The hosts deservedly won hrough against their manager Johnny Millar's former side in an exciting contest which entertained a big crowd.

Arthurlie won the toss and elected to play up the slope on a surface which wa in great condition for this time of the year and offered the first threat when Gary Smith headed a McGlinchey free kick delivery wide.

The high tempo start continued as the sides sparred with Carroll prominent for 'Lie and Beith double act Andy Reid and Kenny McLean looking lively when the home side pressed.

Beith began to ask the visitors some real questions and from a quick throw-in a Christie cross found Reid at the back post but his header drifted agonisingly wide of the post. Evergreen strikerMcLean also had a shot in the box deflected for a corner before Lie keeper Michael White pulled off a wonder save to touch a goalbound Andy Reid free-kick onto the post.

The home side were enjoying the majority of possession but #Lie looked dangerous on the break and Young made some space to turn in the box only to shoot tamely at home keeper Stephen Grindlay.

However the greater goalmouth threat lay at he other end where a Richie Burke free-kick flew inches over before Beith grabbed the all-important lead in 24 minutes. Paul Frize won possession for the hosts and fed Darren Christie whose driven cross into a busy box was bundled home from a few yards b McLean. Play was then held up for six minutes while 'Lie keeper Michael White received treatment for a head injury sustained in the scramble at the goal.

Beith continued to press in a hard fought contest and they doubled their advantage deep into time added on when the 'Lie keeper turned away a Reid free kick delivery only as far as Nicky Docherty at the back post who crossed quickly to find Reid arriving eagerly in the six-yard box and he turned the ball past White.

Sleeves were duly rolled up for the restart and a spat between Beith stopper John Sheridan and 'Lie centre Gary Smith meant that they joined visiting defenders Palmer and McGlinchey in the referee's notebook.

The contest continued at a high tempo with the visitors making real efforts to claw their way back into the tie and they did just that in 58 minutes when, in a quick break forward, Gary Carroll fired in a shot from just outside the box which Grindlay parried right back into his path, allowing him to follow up and blast home easily with the keeper still grounded. However the fightback glimmer was quickly extinguished by Beith when a fine diagonal switch from Darren Christie found Andy Reid who in turn found strike partner McLean and he made enough space to fire a great shot across White into the far corner.

Arthurlie understandably looked deflated for a spell afterwards but Smith showed they were not dead yet when he smacked the post with a well-taken free-kick. The entertainment continued with further goals looking a distinct possibility as both teams continued to attack.

Beith gradually began to see the finishing line approach and they looked to have more strength at their disposal on the bench, making three fresh legs changes top maintain their grip on the tie.

'Lie battled away but they never really tested the keeper and the biggest incident in the closing stages with another lengthy delay with the injured referee having to be replaced by one of his assistants., which in turn meant that the one remaining assistant on the line had to withdraw, leaving the clubs to provide 'volunteer linesmen' for the remainder. of the match.

Beith saw out the rest of the match quite comfortably in charge.

This was a fine team effort from Beith as all played their part fully on the day but a special mention should go to recently signed young full back Iain Fisher who, from his debut, has made the position his own and never put a foot wrong throughout.

BEITH: Grindlay; Fisher, Docherty, MacDonald, Sheridan, Martin, Christie, Frize, McLean, Reid, Burke. Subs: Wilson, McArthur, McGowan, Collins, Ryan.

ARTHURLIE: White, McGlinchey, Palmer, Gair, Tart, Devlin, Carroll, McGregor, Smith, Young, McTernan. Subs: Blakey, Rushford, Convery, McDonald, Lindsay.