HOLDERS Beith and Kilwinning Rangers won their way into the semi-finals of the Ayrshire Weekly Press Cup.

The Bellsdale Park side were pushed all the way before defeating lower league Annbank United 3-2 while Buffs defeated Maybole 2-0 in another quarter-final at Ladywell Stadium.

Beith's threadbare side saw Tommy Martin pulling on a jersey for the first time since early season and the midfielder was unfortunate to collect an early yellow card for a deliberate foul after equally ring-rusty Mark McLaughlin had given away possession.

The young and enthusiastic home side were clearly up for the challenge with Simpson and McGowan testing Stephen Grindlay in the early action.

Annbank were forced to make two early changes through injury but the high tempo continued with play alternating from end-to-end before the hosts made the breakthrough after 26 minutes. With Beith struggling to clear their lines Simpson found Scott Granger in the box and he finished smartly.

Beith responded and Calum Watt headed a fine Darren Christie cross over the bar before his blushes were spared a minute later when Christie himself burst forward to fire a brilliant shot into the top corner from nearly 30 yards.

Straight from the restart, Annbank forcing two corners before the post stopped a David McGowan shot when Beith replied. The visitors grabbed the lead when Tommy Martin picked his spot with a measured shot from the edge of the box.

Beith were still far from comfortable with pocket battleship Martin typifying Annbank's spirit, restricting the visitors' time on the ball. Thomas Collins then missed the target with only the keeper to beat. The miss was rubbed in a minute later when a cross into the Beith box reached hard working McLean Simpson who found room at the back post to net.

However Beith dug deep and home goalie Marc Fisher made fine stops to thwart McGowan and McLaughlin before the latter was fouled in box by a desperate challenge allowing Connor McGlinchey to seal victory.

Meanwhile battling Buffs saw off their lower league hosts to set up a home showdown with Auchinleck Talbot.

But they had to work hard against Carlo Walker’s youthful team.

Kilwinning began well and forged a good chance in two minutes when Carlo Monti made a surging run before shooting inches over the bar from 25 yards.

Ian Cashmore shot narrowly wide from 16 yards three minutes later as the visitors kept pressing.

However, in 13 minutes Buffs went ahead when Findlay Frye shot home from the edge of the box.

Maybole should have scored in 15 minutes when Chris Allan shot wide from 12 yards.

Bryan Boylan set up Carlo Monti who shot into the goalie’s arms in 23 minutes. Buffs doubled their advantage three minutes later, when a Boylan effort from 18 yards was drifting wide but Ian Cashmore connected with the ball and netted from all of four yards.

Allan chipped a free-kick from the edge of the box just over the bar for Maybole in 40 minutes.

Frye had his effort from 10 yards blocked by a defender five minutes later.

Home goalie Adam Strain caught a 12-yard shot from Connor in 74 minutes as the visitors advanced..