Ayrshire Weekly Press Cup Second Round

GIRVAN 2

BEITH 3

By Stewart McConnell

LAST-gasp Beith edged out gutsy Girvan in a cliffhanger tie to set up a quarter-final tie away to Auchinleck Talbot.

After a drab first half the game sparked into life in an enthralling second period which saw five goals and end-to-end action.

The visitors began well and a left-footed drive from visiting striker Ross "Archie" McPherson 25 yards out was well hooked away by a defender in four minutes and seconds later the same player headed wide from six yards following a precision cross from Joe Bradley.

The first chance for Girvan came in 11 minutes when a cross into the box from Stephen Auld was hooked away by a visiting defender. Just a minute later, visiting goalie James Digney saved at the feet of Andy Hunter.

Beith were denied what looked a clearcut penalty in 34 minutes when McPherson was upended inside the box by Auld.

Darren Christie threaded a great through ball to McPherson a minute later but a defender blocked the striker's effort with his legs. McPherson ballooned a 25-yard free-kick over the bar in 33 minutes as Beith kept knocking on the door.

Girvan had their best chance of the match so far a minute later when a 20-yard effort from Adam Caldwell was deflected over the bar by a defender.

A Bradley cross into the box was turned away by a Girvan defender. The hosts were so unlucky in 40 minutes when Antonio Sisi sent an angled 20-yard drive narrowly wide.

Bradley saw his strong 18-yard drive saved by Darren Johnstone in 43 minutes.

The hosts went close again in 44 minutes when a 12-yard attempt from Hunter was saved by Disney.

In 50 minutes Bradley sent a precision pass to Keir Milliken, whose shot from 12 yards was saved by Johnstone.

Keir Milliken made a great run and shot wide from 12 yards in 59 minutes. Two minutes later Milliken set up Bradley in front of goal but he totally miscued in front of goal.

However in 63 minutes, Girvan went ahead against the run of play when Robert Patterson volleyed home from the edge of the box.

Jamie Cunningham set up McPherson, whose strong shot produced a point-blank save from Johnstone in 70 minutes. However a minute later Beith levelled when a Christie cross was powerfully headed home from eight yards by Milliken.

However in 73 minutes Girvan went ahead when Michael Reilly threaded a through ball to Craig Harvey who shot under Digney and into the net from eight yards.

It was all-square in 80 minutes when Andy Reid headed home a Nicky Docherty cross at the back post.

Beith sealed victory in 89 minutes when Paul Frize went on a 40-yard run and sent home a curling shot from 18 yards.

GIRVAN: Johnstone; Auld, Cameron, Doolan, O'Donnell, Sisi, Caldwell, P Cameron, Patterson, Harvey, Hunter. Reilly. Subs: Reid, Moore, Mitchell.

BEITH: Digney; Cunningham, Docherty, McGlinchey, Sheridan, Wilson, Christie, Bradley, McPherson, McLean, Milliken. Subs: Reilly, Reid, McDowall, Mitchell.