THERE are times when football has to take a back seat and one such occasion occurred last night at Petershill’s crunch clash at home to Shettleston in the Euroscot Eng Sectional League Cup.

Referee Stephen Reid was forced to abandon the match after just 10 minutes when an elderly Peasy supporter collapsed with a suspected heart attack.

The game came to an immediate halt as players and spectators looked on helplessly while frantic attempts were made to resuscitate the prostrate fan.

The subsequent arrival of paramedics compelled the match official to make the correct decision to abandon the game with the scores tied at 0-0.

Players from both sides and the respective dugouts were both shocked by the sad turn of events and backed the decision to abandon the match.

In other games, Vale of Clyde’s winning run in Section Four was brought to an abrupt end thanks to a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Rutherglen Glencairn in an often tempestuous affair at Fullarton Park.

All looked to be going according to plan when half-time was reached with the Tin Pail leading 1-0 through a Kevin Hamill effort, however Mark Tait levelled matters almost from the restart for Glencairn, who were soon trailing again after former player Gavin Ross restored the home side’s lead with a penalty kick.

But Willie Harvey’s men do not lack for battling qualities and drew level when David Dunnachie netted. They had one more shock in their locker as close-season signing Mark Bachelor popped up to net the winning goal. Bachelor then blotted his copy book by becoming one of three players, along with Ross and Vale midfielder Thomas Buckley, to receive red cards.

Vale of Clyde continue to top the standings on goal difference but any slip-ups away to East Kilbride Thistle this coming Saturday would open the door for Willie Harvey’s men to qualify for the quarter-finals if they can overcome last season’s beaten finalists, Blantyre Vics.

Cambuslang Rangers found their scoring boots to hammer East Kilbride Thistle 6-2 in the remaining Section Four contest.

Previously unbeaten records tumbled elsewhere with Lesmahagow going down 4-2 at home to Section One rivals Larkhall and Junior new-boys Gartcairn tasting defeat for the first time when a Danny McGuinness goal saw Shotts Bon Accord claim the spoils at Hannah Park.

Rob Roy did what was necessary to qualify as Section Eight top dogs by returning from Kilsyth Rangers with a share of the spoils and Greenock also made it to the last-eight stage thanks to striker Alan Docherty netting the winning strike to seal a 2-1 victory over Vale of Leven.

Fraser Team netted a treble as Rossvale ran out 7-0 winners against Dunipace and there was no shortage of goals down in Section Seven where Benburb thrashed Govan rivals St Anthony’s 7-1 at the same time as East Renfrewshire neighbours Neilston fought out a pulsating 3-3 stalemate with Arthurlie at Dunterlie Park.

Gary Smith (2) and Eddie McTiernan were on target for the home side while Robbie Cameron hit a brace of goals to go along with a Mark McCuish counter for Neilston.

In the Ardagh Glass Cup stakes, Kilwinning Rangers frontman Brian Boylan was on the mark twice as the Buffs crucially won 3-1 against Beith.

Feared hitman Stewart Kean netted four goals as Hurlford United handed out a 6-1 mauling to Saltcoats Vics while Irvine Meadow frontman Chris Hall hit a vital winner as his team beat nine-man Darvel 2-1.

Gordon Pope (pen), Stevie Wilson and Robert Love (2) were on target as Auchinleck Talbot beat Kello Rovers 4-0.

LAST NIGHT’S RESULTS

Euroscot Eng Sectional League Cup. Section One: Lesmahagow 2 Larkhall Thistle 4, Lanark Utd 3 Forth 1. Section Two: Shotts Bon Accord 1 Gartcairn 0, Newmains Utd 2 Wishaw 4. Section Three: Thorniewood Utd 3 St Roch’s 2, Petershill v Shettleston (match abandoned after 10 minutes). Section Four: Vale of Clyde 2 Rutherglen Glencairn 3, Cambuslang Rangers 6 East Kilbride Thistle 2. Section Five: Benburb 7 St Anthony’s 1, Arthurlie 3 Neilston 3. Section Six: Yoker 5 Ashfield 1, Maryhill 3 Glasgow Perthshire 2. Section Seven: Greenock 3 Port Glasgow 1, Vale of Leven 1 Renfrew 2. Section Eight: Kilsyth Rangers 0 Kirkintilloch Rob Roy 0, Dunipace 0 Rossvale 7.

Ardagh Glass League Cup. Section 1: Ardrossan 2 Kilbirnie 2, Beith 1 Kilwinning Rangers 3, Dalry 1 Largs Th 6. Section 2: Irvine Victoria 7 Ardeer Th 1, Saltcoats 1 Hurlford 6, Darvel 1 Irvine Meadow 2. Section 3: Maybole 5 Whitletts Victoria 2, Troon 4 Annbank 0, Girvan 4 Craigmark 0. Section 4: Muirkirk 1 Cumnock 6, Auchinleck 4 Kello 0, Glenafton 2 Lugar 0.