Beith are fast becoming the spot kick kings of Junior football after holding their nerve to overcome Auchinleck Talbot on a 5-4 shoot-out in their Ayrshire Cup quarter-final clash on Saturday.

It was the second time in a week that Johnny Millar’s men won a cup match on penalties.

But there were no party celebrations long into the night on this occasion - just relief at getting over the line to clinch a last-four clash with Irvine Vics.

Nikky Docherty tucked away Beith’s fifth success from the spot, however goalkeeper Stephen Grindlay proved to be his team’s matchwinner as he duly saved Bot defender Martin McGoldrick’s effort to the delight of his team-mates.

Winning skipper John Sheridan admitted: "It was hardly a footballing classic out there but that’s only to be expected given the heat, tired legs, and the fact some of the guys were playing with injuries.

“First half we were particularly off the pace and Auchinleck could have put the game out of sight but the gaffer changed our shape and we found a bit of energy from somewhere to make a game of it and grab a deserved equaliser.”

The visitors got their noses in front first half when a run and cross from Graham Wilson was put away by Keir Milliken at the back post for a lead that ensued until the 76th minute when Beith midfielder David McGowan’s deep cross was untypically missed by towering Talbot shotstopper Andy Leishman allowing Richie Burke to level matters at 1-1.

Disappointed Bot boss Tommy Sloan said: “There wasn’t a great deal of quality to talk about out there and it’s probably true to say the game had an end of season look to it.

"Both teams had their best periods shooting down the hill but penalty kicks looked the likely outcome long before the end."

In the remaining two games on the West Region weekend fixture card, Greenock, disappointingly relegated from the Super First Division last midweek, gave themselves a welcome shot in the arm with a 2-0 Euroscot Eng Central League Cup quarter-final victory over Cumbernauld United.

Reece Williamson notched both goals for the Tail O’The Bank side whose reward is a semi-final date away to St Anthony's on Wednesday night.

Meanwhile, the penultimate match in this season’s Super Premier Division campaign saw Hurlford United secure runners-up spot in the standings behind champions Auchinleck with a 3-0 defeat of fallen giants Irvine Meadow. A 0-0 stalemate resulted from an evenly contested first half at Meadow Park however Ryan Borris netting the opening goal shortly into the second period opened the floodgates and Hurlford went on to add further goals from acclaimed striking pair Ross Robertson and Stewart Keane. WEEKEND RESULTS:

McBookie.com Super Premier Division

Irvine Meadow 0 Hurlford Utd 3.

Ayrshire Cup. Quarter-final: Beith 1 Auchinleck Talbot 1 (Beith win 5-4 pens).

Euroscot Eng Central League Cup; Quarter-final. Cumbernauld Utd 0 Greenock 2.

Beith and Auchinleck are both back in action tonight with the Mighty hosting the visit of their vanquished ETHXenergy Scottish Junior Cup Final opponents Pollok in a fairly meaningless Super Premier Division contest which is set to have both sides resting key players ahead of Cup semi-final jousts on Wednesday night. Talbot boss Sloan knows he can be afforded no such luxury ahead of an Evening Times Champions Cup last four showdown against long standing foes Cumnock that is being played at Rosebank Park in Lugar.

This third meeting of the fierce rivals this season - Auchinleck have won both previous head to heads - is given added intrigue by Cumnock being crowned Super First Division champions last midweek to guarantee they will be back competing among the West Region elite in August.

The considerable goals return of forward line pair Sean McKenzie and Aidan Malone in recent weeks has played no small part in Cumnock’s title triumph and their striking prowess could trouble a Talbot rearguard depleted by the absence of skipper James Latta and central defender Craig McCracken .

And the visitors could be further weakened if top scoring marksman Graham Wilson fails to recover from the groin injury that forced his early second half substitution against Beith on Saturday.

Team boss Tucker said: "Graham is looking a definite non-starter right now but we’ll wait until nearer kick off time before making a final decision but taking a gamble on him coming through the game is not an option.

“Thankfully we have Robert Love in reserve , who played the closing 35 minutes at Bellsdale and will be extra motivated through being a former Cumnock player while there is a chance of David Gillies being available again after work commitments kept him away.

“Going up against Cumnock is always a massive game and tonight will be different so we need every player to be giving their all to make sure this not our final 90 minutes of the season.”

PLAYING TONIGHT: (Kick-offs 7.30pm): Evening Times Champions Cup, semi-final. Cumnock v Auchinleck Talbot. McBookie.com Super Premier Division. Beith v Pollok.