On the overall balance of play, Bonnyrigg Rose deserved to knock Petershill out of the Scottish Junior Cup on Saturday.

But probably the most damning aspect of the Glasgow side’s 2-0 fifth-round elimination came in the game’s opening 20 minutes when they could - and should - have found the net on three occasions.

Last season’s East Region champions are physically powerful and extremely well-organised yet they had no answer as the Peasy went for the jugular on the back of a confidence boost from almost opening the scoring when a searing Peter Bradley 35-yarder was touched over his crossbar by Rosey-Posey goalkeeper Michael Andrews.

In quick succession Jason Hardie pulled a shot wide off target when given a clear look at goal, Stuart McCann passed up even more of a gilt-edged opportunity when a slip by visiting defender Ruaridh Donaldson set him clear on goal only to fire the ball at a great height for Andrews to save with comparative ease.

Then a bout of pressure won a corner kick that found its way to Peasy stopper Paul Murphy just eight yards out but he headed high over when it looked easier to hit target.

The game’s opener had arrived just minutes before Murphy’s effort when whistler Lorraine Clark took exception to Kevin Nicoll winning a challenge some 22 yards out to award a free kick in the face of protests that Rose midfield playmaker Adam Nelson sublimely curled into the net albeit Petershill goalkeeper Mikey White may on reflection feel his positioning could have been better.

Springburn gaffer Willie Patterson said: "We afforded Bonnyrigg far too much respect after they scored and they showed themselves capable of playing good possession football but without ever looking like hurting us.

“We just never recovered that early zip and failing to impose ourselves meant we created very few scoring opportunities of our own yet continued to defend excellently and the game would have finished 1-0 had we not went for broke after Fraser’s cruel injury.”

The seasoned team boss was reflecting on the innocuous 80th-minute incident where full-back Fraser McGhee landed awkwardly after jumping for a high ball and stayed down clutching his ankle which was later discovered to have been fractured in two places.

His assisted departure from the scene saw the Peasy boss introduce another striker in Graham Hearton.

However, this more attack-minded approach led to gaps at the back and Rose midfielder Andy Kidd came close to doubling his side’s advantage when his header from substitute Ross Archibald’s cross came crashing back off the upright .

The visitors did manage to score again with a goal that arrived deep into injury time when the otherwise outstanding Nicoll missed his attempted clearance kick at a long punt upfield from goalkeeper Andrews and the ball was laid back by burly Rose striker Keiran McGachie into the path of Archibald who blasted a low drive beyond White for 2-0.

Peasy No 2 Paul Kelly said: "Big Kev was arguably our best player on the day so how cruel that his one mistake is punished in this fashion.

“I’m disappointed at the late goal myself as 2-0 disguises the fact there was very little to choose between the teams in a game that was probably a poor spectacle for the supporters on both sides.

“Our good cup run is now at an end and the focus now has to be on our original goal from the start of the season when we told every player that they were signing for a team whose number one aim was winning promotion.”

Yet another West faller against East Region opponents were Renfrew for whom Ross Gallagher and Chris Zok(pen) were on the mark in a 4-2 New Western Park defeat by Sauchie Juniors whose goalscorers were Oliver Fleming, Darren Cummings and David Morrison(2), however there were better last 16 outcomes for the remaining West Region hopefuls.

Taking pride of place are Kilwinning Rangers who had Carlo Monti red-carded away to bookmakers joint favourites Kelty Hearts but still emerged 2-1 victors thanks to goals from Liam McGuinness and Ben Lewis while Sean O’Neil netted a late consolation effort for the Fifers.

And trailing a close second to the Buffs for the Cup plaudits are Rob Roy whose full back Scott Walker came up trumps with the winning strike in an exciting 4-3 victory away to Penicuik Athletic where Gary McMenamin , Lee Gallaghere and Kevin Green (pen) were also on the scoresheet.

A win on the road was also notched up by Glenafton whose goalscorers in a 3-0 defeat of Dunbar United were David Gray, Darren McGill and Chris Dallas while making up a complement of three Ayrshire teams in the last eight are Auchinleck Talbot, comfortable 4-0 winners at home to Luncarty through counters from h Bryan Young, Graham Wilson(2) and an own goal.

The all-second division clash of Gartcairn and Carluke Rovers is predictably set for a replay after a hard fought 2-2 draw saw both sides finish with only ten men .

Ryan O’Donnell had the Cairn ahead early on but the Rovers came roaring back to lead 2-1 through Ian Watt and John Renwick scores only for a Jordan Love penalty kick conversion to ensure the teams will need to lock horns again next week.

WEEKEND RESULTS

Scottish Junior Cup fifth round

Penicuik Athletic 3 Rob Roy 4, Dunbar Utd 0 Glenafton 3, Auchinleck Talbot 4 Luncarty 0, Kelty Hearts 1 Kilwinning Rangers 2, Renfrew 2 Sauchie 4, Petershill 0 Bonnyrigg Rose 2, Gartcairn 2 Carluke Rovers 2.

McBookie.com Super Premier Division.

Hurlford Utd 2 Beith 2, Pollok 1 Kilbirnie Ladeside. 1

McBookie.com Super First Division.

Blantyre Vics 0 Yoker Athletic 0, Irvine Vics 0 Cumbernauld Utd 2, Clydebank 0 Rutherglen Glencairn 2, Girvan 6 Shettleston 1, Kilsyth Rangers 6 Shotts Bon Accord 0

McBookie.com Central First Division

Wishaw 2 Bellshill Athletic 1, Greenock 2 Benburb 0, Neilston 1 Lesmahagow 2, Thorniewood Utd 2 St Roch's 4, Vale of Clyde 2 Forth Wanderers 2, Larkhall Thistle 2 Johnstone Burgh 1, Cambuslang Rangers 2 Rossvale 3.

McBookie.com Central Second Division

East Kilbride Thistle 1 Lanark Utd 3, Dunipace 3, Port Glasgow 2, Glasgow Perthshire 5 Ashfield 0, St Anthony's 2 Royal Albert 5, Newmains Utd 1 Vale of Leven 4.

McBookie.com Ayrshire District League

Annbank Utd 1 Darvel 2, Ardrossan Winton Rovers 4 Dalry Thistle 0, Craigmark 3 Lugar Boswell 2, Kello Rovers 5 Saltcoats Vics 2, Muirkirk 0 Maybole 5, Whitletts Vics 2 Ardeer Thistle 3.