New Coin Holdings West of Scotland Cup

SHOTTS BON ACCORD 1

BEITH JUNIORS 4

BEITH battled through a difficult tie on the big Hannah Park pitch, beating not only the hosts but the strong wind that made things tough for the players.

The visitors started well into the wind and couldn’t have got a better start a few minutes in, with Andy Reid curling a brilliant free-kick into the top corner from 22 yards after Keir Milliken had been fouled.

Play continued almost totally in the Shotts half with Beith playing some good football on the deck and they doubled their lead after 14 minutes. Reid was again involved when he got on the end of a Nicky Docherty header from a Joe Bradley corner and his header found the net, despite a frantic attempt to clear by a Shotts defender.

The hosts had showed nothing to suggest they had anything to offer but were given a lifeline in 26 minutes when Kevin MacDonald was caught dithering at the back, allowing Evans to run through on goal. Stephen Grindlay did well to block his shot but the rebound fell kindly to him and he stuck the second chance away.

Shotts gathered some belief and they began to see a bit more of the ball with Campbell and Burns causing a few problems. However, the wind-affected game was throwing up few real chances and the only incident of note in the remainder of the half was Grindlay making a fine stop with his legs to stop Maguire when he got on the end of a long ball.

Something looked most likely to happen for Beith when Bradley was in possession and after the restart, he went close with two efforts which went just the wrong side of the upright.

The mercurial midfielder was not to be denied though and he all but secured his side’s victory on the hour, when he found the top corner with a fine shot after keeper Miller had blocked a Reid effort, following a fine move down the left.

Beith made changes for the second period, but unfortunately out-of-touch striker Kenny McLean continued to struggle in front of goal, passing up several chances, including one absolute sitter put on a plate for him by Reid.

It was left to Bradley to bag his second and Beith’s fourth before the end, beating the keeper with a diving header from a Conner McGlinchey cross.

BEITH: Grindlay; McGlinchey, N Docherty, MacDonald, Sheridan, Wilson, Bradley, Frize, Collins, Reid, Milliken. Subs: Burke, McLean, Cunningham, Digney.