Ayrshire Weekly Press Cup Quarter-Final

CUMNOCK 1

KILBIRNIE LADESIDE 3

LADESIDE put in a good performance along with some excellent goals to see them beat Cumnock and progress to the semi-finals of the Ayrshire Weekly Press Cup.

They now host Largs Thistle in the last four tonight (Wednesday).

The hosts had the first opportunity in the opening minute when Anson was fouled 23 yards out by O'Byrne. The striker took the resultant free-kick but his low drive went wide. Kilbirnie then got into the game and James Finlay fired wide before a Scullion free-kick from 30 yards was gathered by Ally Semple at the second attempt.

Ladeside had two good chances within two minutes when firstly Finlay was through on goal after good play by Anderson and a terrific reverse pass by Scullion but Semple saved his effort and then a Scullion corner fell to Dom McLaren 10 yards out but again Semple managed to get a block on the shot.

Good link up play between Davie Anderson and Scullion set up Mark Burbidge inside the box but again Semple made another good save.

Ladeside eventually made the breakthrough in 25 minutes with another stunning free-kick from Scullion.

After Kilbirnie were awarded a soft free-kick 25 yards out right of centre, Scullion fired the ball over the wall and the head of Semple into the far top right corner, giving the goalie no chance.

Cumnock thought they had an equaliser a minute later when a cross into the middle found Scott Anson and his header went in off the post but the referee had already blown for an infringement. Cumnock had a couple of good chances late in the half when Jamie Martin was through on goal, but goalie Kieran Hughes denied him with a brave save on the edge of the box. Martin was in again and after another good stop by Hughes the ball fell to Del Esplin, but defender Cory Hughes headed off the line.

Anson had a chance at the start of the second half when Muir played him in but from a tight angle he fired into the side net. Anderson and Scullion then set up Ross MacKinnon wide on the left and his low cross was met by Gavin Mitchell six yards out but he couldn't make enough contact to force the ball home.

Cumnock pulled level in 63 minutes with a quick counter-attack when Scullion was caught in possession and a long ball in behind the Ladeside defence found substitute Jamie Hilton looking in an offside position but the assistants flag stayed down and he ran in before slotting the ball past Hughes into the net. Kilbirnie then missed two good chances from corners when firstly Mick O'Byrne headed over and then MacKinnon saw his header cleared off the line.

Kilbirnie went in front in 68 minutes when Mitchell picked the ball up just inside the Cumnock half and he was allowed space to run at the Cumnock defence before firing a shot from 30 yards, which flew over Semple and into the net.

Cumnock's task got harder in 81 minutes when Esplin was shown a second yellow card of the match after another poor challenge and sent off by referee Craig King. Ladeside looked to take advantage of the extra-man and Roberts and Juskowiak did well to set up Sweeney but his effort went well over the bar.

The visitors sealed their place in the semi-finals in 86 minutes when a quick free-kick by O'Byrne found Reon Juskowiak and he laid the ball off to Roberts who cut inside before curling an effort beyond Semple into the far bottom corner. Further chances then fell to Roberts after some good play by Anderson but his deflected shot came off the top of the crossbar and then Juskowiak set up McGill but his effort was blocked on the line by Ray Montgomerie.

KILBIRNIE LADESIDE: K Hughes; Mitchell, Ç Hughes, Roberts, O'Byrne, McLaren, Burbidge, Anderson, Finlay, Scullion, MacKinnon. Subs: Sweeney, McGill, Juskowiak, Bembo, Wilton.